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STEEL Square TUBE RHS 30x30x1.8x6 MT LONG.  Material is second grade.         Price is for one length but will discount for quantity.        Cutting is available for a small fee.       Many other products and sizes available.         Econo-Steel - Our address is 9-13 LAMANA ST, MORDIALLOC. Vic Would be a good idea to call first and make a time. 9587 2100. Usually open for pick-ups Mon-Fri 9-5. *Please note that products advertised are subject to prior sale as they are listed in other media. Lots more! We have a large and diverse range of products and services.. For more info on this or similar items please refer to our website , visit: http://bit.ly/steelinfo Click here to Visit our Ebay store. Click here to sign up for our email newsletters and special offers.    Our video above offers more products and services.. Interested in receiving special offers, news etc? Subscribe to our mailing list below..           Need some inspiration? See impressive works of art using various steel products.. http://snip.ly/6ckyx

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BP scraps GAB exploration project BP has decided not to proceed with its exploration drilling programme in the Great Australian Bight (GAB), offshore South Australia. Image credit: www.bp.com Claire Fitzpatrick, BP’s managing director for exploration and production, Australia, said that after careful consideration the company concluded that the GAB project “will not be able to compete for capital investment” with other upstream opportunities in its global portfolio in the foreseeable future. “We have looked long and hard at our exploration plans for the Great Australian Bight but, in the current external environment, we will only pursue frontier exploration opportunities if they are competitive and aligned to our strategic goals,” Mr Fitzpatrick said. “After extensive and careful consideration, this has proven not to be the case for our project to explore in the Bight.” The decision comes after BP conducted a thorough review of its upstream strategy earlier this year, which found that the company would be better off to focus its exploration efforts on opportunities likely to create value in the near to medium term, primarily building on its significant existing upstream positions. “This decision isn’t a result of a change in our view of the prospectivity of the region, nor of the ongoing regulatory process run by the independent regulator NOPSEMA. It is an outcome of our strategy and the relative competitiveness of this project in our portfolio,” Mr Fitzpatrick added. He said BP has already communicated its decision to the federal and state governments. “This decision has been incredibly difficult and we acknowledge it will be felt across the South Australia region. We have made significant progress with preparations for drilling in the Bight with the support of communities and federal, state and local governments,” he said. “We acknowledge our commitments and obligations and our priority now is to work with government and community stakeholders to identify alternative ways of honouring these.” BP has also informed its joint venture partner, Statoil that it will not be proceeding with exploration drilling, adding that the company “fully understand BP’s change in strategic direction and accept BP’s decision”. “BP is a long-term, significant investor in Australia, most visibly through our retail network and refinery and also as partners in the North West Shelf and Browse ventures,” Mr Fitzpatrick continued. ”We expect to continue to consider further opportunities to invest and grow our business here.” Australian Manufacturing

TerraCom to build 60Mw solar power station at Blair Athol coal mine TerraCom Limited has unveiled plans to construct a 60Mw solar power station on rehabilitated land at the Blair Athol coal mine which has historically produced a high quality thermal coal for over 100 years. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj by dan The company, which recently acquired the mine via its wholly owned subsidiary Orion Mining, is planning to construct the station on a 50 hectare site while bringing the mine back into production. The mine is expected to restart operations in the 4th quarter 2016 with a production capacity of 2Mtpa of coal. Terra Com Chairman Cameron McRae said the Quantum Group from Singapore will work with GHD in Queensland to initially plan the solar power system. “TerraCom is keen to play a role in helping the Government deliver on its renewable energy targets. Blair Athol is well placed to achieve this due to its close proximity to the electricity grid,” Mr McRae noted. “The Quantum Group are industry leaders in alternative energy generations and we are very pleased to announce that Queensland energy expert Mr John O’Brien shall lead the planning from GHD.” The Company is now awaiting Queensland Government approvals for the Blair Athol lease to be transferred from the current owners. Mr McRae said rehabilitation and mining operations will commence as soon as permission is granted. “The introduction of a Solar Power Station constructed on rehabilitated mine land will provide a long term future for Blair Athol as a solar hub which will mean Blair Athol will be again helping to power Queensland’s growth.” Australian Manufacturing

Austal Australia named finalist for the 2016 WA Industry and Export Awards The Export Council of Australia and West Australian Minister for Commerce, Michael Mischin have named Austal Australia as finalist for the 2016 WA Industry and Export Awards, recognising the company’s strong export success in the past year. Image credit: www.austal.comRNOV Al Mubshir (S11), the first High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) designed and constructed by Austal Australia for the Royal Navy of Oman The company has been named a finalist in 3 separate Export Award categories, including the Manufacturing Exports Award, the Innovation Excellence Award and the Marketing and Design Award. Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the announcement was a well-deserved acknowledgement of Austal Australia’s continuing export success which saw the company deliver 5 new vessels from the West Australian shipyard over 2015/16, including 3 exports. “Over 75% of Austal’s global production is for export markets and our Australian shipyard continues to generate valuable new business that is creating jobs, developing skills and growing Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding capability,” Mr Singleton remarked. The news comes just days after Austal’s successful delivery of the RNOV Al Naasir (S12) – the second of two 72 metre High Speed Support Vessels (HSSV’s) built for the Royal Navy of Oman under a US$124.9 million design, construct and integrated logistics support contract. Australian Manufacturing

Lithium Australia begins pilot testing for continuous production of lithium carbonate Lithium Australia NL (LIT) has commenced piloting for continuous production of lithium carbonate under the second stage of its new test program at the Sileach pilot plant. Image credit: lithium-au.comium The Sydney plant is operated by ANSTO Minerals – a division of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. “The step-up to “continuous” lithium carbonate production commenced in the past 24 hours and followed the initial pilot scale extraction of lithium from pegmatite ore sourced from Lepidolite Hill located 15km south of Coolgardie in Western Australia,” LIT told the ASX on Tuesday. According to the Company’s Managing Director, Mr Adrian Griffin, the second stage of pilot testing involves the recovery of lithium carbonate and potassium salts from solutions generated during the previous plant test. “Pilot testing the Company’s 100% owned Sileach process at the ANSTO Minerals has been very successful to date, extracting over 95% of the lithium,” Mr Griffin remarked. “We anticipate very good results for the carbonate production step as the initial solutions are largely devoid of impurities.” The Sileach™ process is a hydrometallurgical process used for the recovery of lithium from spodumene, currently the primary source of hard-rock lithium production. The process is readily adaptable to other silicate minerals and has been developed to reduce cost of producing lithium chemicals from materials that have traditionally been roasted, with very high energy cost, to recover the lithium. Lithium Australia is a dedicated developer of disruptive lithium extraction technologies and has strategic alliances with a number of companies, potentially providing access to a diversified lithium mineral inventory. Australian Manufacturing

Construction begins on $400m lithium processing facility in Kwinana Construction has begun on a new lithium processing plant in Kwinana with a processing capacity of 24,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2dCSCuC The plant, a $400 million investment from China’s Tianqi Lithium, will source ore from the Greenbushes mine in southwestern Australia – jointly owned by Tianqi and Albemarle Corp – and will increase the company’s processing capacity by as much as 50%. WA Premier Colin Barnett said the project was “a major development for Western Australia”, that will boost the local economy and create hundreds of jobs during the construction phase. “More than 115 employees will be needed once the project becomes operational toward the end of 2018,” Mr Barnett added. “The project will also generate benefits for the South-West of the State, with production likely to double at the Greenbushes mine, near Bunbury, to supply the Kwinana plant.” State Development Minister Bill Marmion said the Liberal National Government has helped secure the investment for WA by working alongside Tianqi’s Australian subsidiary, Talison Lithium, which operates the Greenbushes mine. “A concerted effort was made to ensure a suitable site and cross-government approvals were secured, in order for a timely investment decision to be made,” Mr Marmion said. “This is an important manufacturing project which adds value to natural resources development in Western Australia and increases our capacity to produce higher value products.” Lands Minister Terry Redman said the Chinese company had recently finalised a lease with LandCorp for up to 49 years, over a 20-hectare site within the Western Trade Coast. “The proximity to vital infrastructure and support services and the port and skilled labour provided by the Western Trade Coast, were significant factors in the State’s success in attracting this project,” Mr Redman said. Australian Manufacturing

GE set to acquire LM Wind Power GE has launched a $1.65 billion offer to acquire LM Wind Power, a Denmark-based manufacturer and supplier of rotor blades to the wind industry, in an effort to capture more value in the fast growing renewables industry. Image: http://twitter.com/generalelectric LM is one of the biggest manufacturers of wind turbine blades in the world, and a supplier not only to GE’s renewables business, but to rivals Gamesa and Goldwind as well. Jérôme Pécresse, President and CEO of GE Renewable Energy said the deal in-sources wind turbine blade design and manufacturing for GE’s Renewable Energy business, improving its ability to increase energy output and create value for onshore and offshore customers. ”We, along with LM Wind Power, have a deep pipeline of technical innovations that can further reduce the cost of electricity. With our combined global footprint, we can build flexible solutions for customers around the world. This combination will help sustain growth in the wind power industry,” Mr Pécresse said. “The acquisition of LM Wind Power, a leading supplier to the wind industry, will help us deliver on that goal. Simply stated, we’ll be more local, have more flexibility and knowledge in turbine design and supply, and more ability to innovate and reduce product costs, while improving turbine performance. We will also develop enhanced digital and services capabilities.” Marc de Jong, CEO of LM Wind Power, said the deal will combine the speed and focus of LM’s entrepreneurial culture with GE’s world-class engineering and operational capabilities. “Our two organisations are highly complementary and the transaction positions us well to respond faster to customer needs and enhance performance of wind turbines to ultimately reduce the cost of energy,” he said. “We look forward to working closely with the GE Renewable Energy team to accelerate our growth strategy and continue to deliver greater value to all our customers.” LM, which will continue to operate as a standalone unit within GE Renewable Energy once the transaction is completed, has 13 factories located on four continents in 8 countries including Denmark, Spain, Poland, Canada, USA, India, China and Brazil. The company will also retain its existing management team and be headquartered in Denmark, where it maintains a global technology centre. “LM Wind Power has a terrific team, with a strong passion for their mission to power a cleaner world. Their values of customer-focus, teamwork, trust, and ownership are harmonious with our own values. I’m very optimistic that together we will help shape the future of energy,” Mr Pécresse concluded. The transaction – subject to customary regulatory and governmental approvals – is expected to close in the first half of 2017. Australian Manufacturing

Iveco to distribute International Trucks in Australia CNH Industrial and Navistar Inc yesterday released a joint statement, confirming that Iveco has been appointed sole distributor of International Trucks in the Australian market. Image credit: www.iveco.com.au The announcement put to rest speculation about the future distributor of International Trucks, after initial plans were outlined by Navistar Inc. at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show. While the specifics of the agreement are yet to be ironed out, it is clear that International trucks brand will now return to the location where thousands of international commercial vehicles were produced or assembled from 1952-2001. CNH Industrial Executive Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, Ray Osgood, said he was “extremely pleased” to have finally struck a deal with Navistar Inc. for the distribution rights after 18 months of negotiations. “International has an incredible heritage in Australia, dominating the commercial vehicle market for several decades – there remains a lot of passion for the brand here today, and it still has a lot of equity in this market,” Mr Osgood said. “CNH Industrial is extremely excited at the prospect of partnering with Navistar in reintroducing the iconic International Trucks brand to Australia. Our operational experience within Iveco and the obvious synergies and history between the two brands will provide notable efficiencies as the International range is introduced in the months ahead.” Navistar Senior Vice President, Distribution & Export, Mark Belisle, said the company carefully considered the best course of action for the return of International Trucks to Australia. “Despite not having sold here for a number of years, ‘INTER’ is still entrenched in the psyche of the Australian market and remembered fondly by fleet operators. This enthusiasm for the marque was also highlighted at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show with both the ProStar and LoneStar display trucks capturing the imagination of show-goers,” Mr Belisle said. “Of course the return of a brand to Australia that is so well regarded, deserved a detailed plan befitting of its standing here, and that meant establishing an association with a company that was well equipped to assist in effectively re-launching in the local market. In Iveco we’ve identified the necessary credentials and industry experience to help meet our goals. The close history between Iveco and International is not lost on us either; it adds an element of emotion to the agreement.” Australian Manufacturing

Toyota calls back 300 Prius vehicles in Australia Toyota Australia is recalling approximately 300 current generation Prius vehicles manufactured between August 2015 and October 2016 due to “potential issue with the parking brake cable”. Image credit: www.toyota.com “The impacted vehicles are equipped with a manual parking brake system that is operated by a foot pedal. When the foot pedal is operated, a connecting cable applies the rear brakes,” the company said in a statement. “There is a possibility that during normal operation of the vehicle, the parking brake cable may disengage, causing the parking brake to become ineffective. If this happens and the transmission is left in any gear other than ‘park’ while the ignition is on, the vehicle could roll away. To rectify this condition, parking brake cable clips will be installed on all impacted vehicles.” Toyota Australia said the parts are expected to arrive at dealerships later this month, after which impacted owners will receive a letter to inform them to make an appointment at their preferred Toyota dealer. According to the company, the repair, which will take approximately 30 minutes, will be carried out free of charge. Australian Manufacturing

ASC to be split into three Government-owned companies The Federal Government has announced that it will split Adelaide-based shipbuilder ASC into three individual, Government-owned companies. Image credit: www.asc.com.aus According to the statement, the formal separation of ASC into shipbuilding, submarine sustainment and infrastructure companies will ensure optimal support for the future needs of Australia’s future shipbuilding capability. The move follows a strategic review of ASC, which sought to identify the best possible corporate, capital and governance arrangements to help maximise the future success of ASC and the Australian naval shipbuilding industry. The Department of Defence Ministers said the procedure to split ASC into three new companies will begin immediately and will be completed next year. “These changes will have no impact on ASC employees’ current terms and conditions and will provide the right structure for the growth of the workforce as a result of major infrastructure investment and the construction of Offshore Patrol Vessels, Future Frigates and Future Submarines,” reads the statement. The Management of ASC has welcomed the announcement, saying the company had effectively been operating separate submarine and shipbuilding businesses for the last two years. “This operating model has enabled each business to focus its attention and allocate resources to deliver on their programs and pursue opportunities for future work. It has been a major contributing factor in the company’s turnaround in the Collins Class submarine and Hobart Class air warfare destroyer programs,” said ASC Chairman Bruce Carter. He said the separation will have no bearing on ASC’s involvement in its current programs. “The separation of ASC into three businesses will ensure that the company is best- placed to support the future needs of Australia’s naval industry,” Mr Carter added. “The last two years has seen a remarkable turnaround in Collins Class submarine availability and the Hobart Class air warfare destroyer program is now meeting its schedule milestones and we expect our improved productivity to continue.” Australian Manufacturing

Glencore restarts Collinsville Coal Mine, begins recruitment process Glencore is set to recommence operations at its Collinsville Coal Mine near Bowen in a move that is expected to provide employment for up to 200 Queenslanders. Image credit: www.glencore.com.au The company, which already kickstarted a recruitment process to fill the positions, said the decision was influenced by increased demand from South-East Asia for the specific type of coal produced by Collinsville. “Our Collinsville mine has made material progress in increasing operational efficiencies and reducing costs in the current market and the decision to return to production is positive news for the local community and the wider region,” said Tony Galvin, head of Glencore’s open cut coal business in Queensland. Glencore cut production in December 2015 due to declining thermal coal prices. Subsequently, the company reduced the 230-strong workforce by 180, 140 of whom were redeployed to other Glencore operations. “This year there has been a focus on rehabilitation work and management of mine water,” the company said in a press release. “We have also continued to support a number of community initiatives, including the funding of a revitalisation master plan that aims to increase tourism in Collinsville and surrounding areas.” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has welcomed the announcement that one of Queensland’s oldest coal mines at Collinsville is restarting production and hiring again. “This is yet another piece of positive news for the north and ongoing evidence of green shoots appearing in the resources sector,” the Premier stated. “It’s been encouraging to see these green shoots appearing over the past few months showing in both global prices and within the industry itself in Queensland.” Australian Manufacturing

Bosch Australia showcases highly automated driving (HAD) capabilities at ITS World Congress in Melbourne Bosch Australia has demonstrated and road tested its Australian engineered automated vehicle at the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress, which is being held in Melbourne this week. Image credit: www.bosch.com.au The company’s vehicle was driven on a closed Albert Park circuit on Sunday during the ITS World Congress Media Day, with demonstration to continue over the duration of the Congress. The vehicle has the ability to communicate with other vehicles and to automatically act on behalf of the driver based on projected danger such as road-works, sudden changes in traffic conditions and unexpected obstacles. Bosch will also demonstrate connectivity between its vehicle and a Ducati motorcycle at Albert Park, a feat that could prove key to protecting vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists. According to the company, the vehicle also includes advanced human machine interface (HMI) technology that can adjust vehicle settings and monitor for driver distractions. Bosch Australia’s automated driving program has been supported with a $1.2 million investment by the Victorian Government via the Transport Accident Commission (TAC). Bosch Australia President Gavin Smith, who is speaking as keynote at the ITS World Congress, said the advancement of highly automated driving will significantly reduce the number of accidents on the roads while also delivering a myriad of other benefits. “More than 90 per cent of all crashes are caused by human error, by increasing automation in vehicles, we can have a profound impact,” Mr Smith said. The information gathered from the trials will be used to inform the development of regulations and infrastructure to enable similar self-driving cars to operate on Australian roads when they become commercially available in the future. “Projects such as these are not just vital for the advancement of road safety but also for the further development of technical expertise and capability of Bosch Australia engineers,” Mr Smith added. “More than 45 Bosch Australia engineers worked on the car in the last year and we are extremely proud of what they have achieved.” As of 2017, cars will be fitted with systems such as “integrated highway assist,” which allows a car to travel at speed on the highway, while remaining in its lane. “In 2018, this will be augmented with a “highway assist” system that allows the car to change lanes by itself. Both systems still require a human driver to monitor the road,” Bosch Australia said in a press release. According to the company, by 2020 cars will be equipped with a “highway pilot” that can essentially take over all driving tasks, with only a sporadic human intervention needed at times. By 2025, Bosch expects all vehicles to be fitted with “auto pilot” system that can drive a car from point A to point B without any human involvement. “Although we cannot say precisely when the tipping point for highly automated driving will be, we are certain the future of mobility will be connected, electrified and automated,” Mr Smith concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Samsung discontinues Galaxy Note7 production Numerous reports have emerged that Samsung has decided to end production of the Galaxy Note7, just hours after asking retailers to stop sales and exchanges of the smartphone. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2e7rxft “We remain committed to working diligently with appropriate regulatory authorities to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation,” the company in a statement, before deciding to discontinue production altogether. “Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available.” The move comes after the company received dozens of reports of batteries catching fire and exploding, and after it failed to rectify the problem with the issue of replacement phones, which also malfunctioned. The Galaxy Note7 was intended to be Samsung’s flagship smartphone, one that would dethrone Apple’s iPhone as the best smartphone on the market. Samsung has yet to make an announcement regarding its plans with existing Galaxy Note7 phones that are in use and how it intends to deal with customers with pending orders. Australian Manufacturing

Australia Pacific LNG announces start of operations from second train Australia Pacific LNG has announced the start of production from the second train at its Curtis Island facility near Gladstone. Image credit: www.aplng.com.au The company, which began LNG production from its first train in December 2015, confirmed that it had produced 150,000 cubic metres of LNG, equivalent to the volume required to fill an LNG ship Australia Pacific LNG CEO, Page Maxson, said the start of operations from the second train marks the final major construction milestone on the company’s journey to becoming one of Australia’s leading domestic and international energy supplier. “The second train is up and running, enabling our LNG Facility on Curtis Island to deliver commercial quantities of LNG at sustained output from both trains. With our strong reserves position we are looking forward to working with our key customers here in Australia and overseas to help meet their energy needs today and in the decades ahead,” Mr Maxson said. “As the largest producer of natural gas in eastern Australia, we are underpinned by a world-class coal seam gas resources position. We currently provide approximately 25 per cent of domestic gas to the east coast market, with sufficient reserves to meet both LNG and domestic demand.” The commencement of train two operations means that approximately 200TJ/day of equity gas that was previously directed to the QGC sales contract will become available to Australia. Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan has welcomed the announcement, saying it was an important boost to Australia’s export capacity. “It will also deliver a sustained and reliable energy source to domestic and key international markets like Japan and China,” the Minister added. “As the third Queensland LNG project to begin production from a second train, the $25 billion APLNG project demonstrates the extent to which the Australian resources sector underpins the national economy and drives growth.” APPEA Chief Executive Dr Malcolm Roberts has also congratulated Australia Pacific LNG and its employees and on “delivering a first class world project professionally and safely”. “Six trains are now fully operational on Curtis Island off Gladstone following unprecedented investment in world-first projects that are exporting a cleaner energy source to the world,” Mr Roberts noted. “They form part of a bigger $200 billion investment in new LNG projects which will soon see Australia become the world’s leading exporter of LNG.” Australian Manufacturing

Queensland cuts red tape to progress Adani mine project The Queensland state government has set out to accelerate the development of the $21.7 billion Carmichael coal and rail project by renewing and expanding the project’s special “prescribed project” status to include its water infrastructure. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2d3ez5i State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the combined mine, rail and associated water infrastructure have all been declared critical infrastructure – the first time this has happened in seven years. He said the declaration, which was based on advice from the independent Coordinator-General, means less red tape for the project and the jobs and business opportunities it offered. “This step bundles together major elements of the project for the first time – the mine, the 389 kilometre rail line, and the water infrastructure, including a pipeline, pumping stations and a dam upgrade,” the Minister explained. “It makes it more efficient to establish easements for infrastructure like the water pipeline and the rail, and expands the Coordinator-General’s power to ensure timely approvals.” He said the Palaszczuk Government has gone to great lengths to accelerate the development of the project, as illustrated by the 22 key Commonwealth, State and local government approvals granted for Adani’s mine, rail and port facilities. “Adani has now obtained all the necessary primary approvals for its mine, rail and port project— and most importantly, I have granted the mining leases,” the Minister added. “At a state level, the only key approvals remaining are water licenses and Adani is actively working on those with my Department of Natural Resources and Mines. I know that regional communities particularly will welcome the advice from Adani that construction of the project is set to begin in 2017.” He also pointed out that the progress on the project had been achieved while protecting the Great Barrier Reef and meeting Queensland and Commonwealth environmental impact assessment requirements. Australian Manufacturing

South Australia to invest 10m in driverless car technology The South Australian state government will fork out $10 million worth of grants in an effort to boost testing and R&D of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies in the state. Image credit: www.arrb.com.au The initiative was launched by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan at the 23rd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which opened in Melbourne on Monday. Making the announcement, Mr Mullighan said the Government will invite companies, industry bodies, research institutions and other organisations to submit creative proposals focusing on autonomous vehicle testing and demonstrations, as well as on connected vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure pilots and demonstrations. “Connected and autonomous vehicles can deliver huge benefits to South Australia – they have the capacity to reduce congestion, save lives and help people get around our community with more freedom,” the Minister said. “We need to know more about what changes are needed to our roads and our laws so that this technology can improve safety on the roads, improve mobility for people with disabilities and reduce congestion and emissions.” He said the initiative is inviting creative proposals that will accelerate the roll-out of these technologies on the state’s roads and open up new opportunities for South Australian businesses and its economy. “We already have world leading companies in this field. Cohda Wireless, SAGE Automation and Sydac are all based in South Australia and are some of our most impressive success stories,” the Minister added. “Transforming the South Australian economy depends on our ability to adopt new ways of doing things, using advanced technologies to build globally competitive, high-value firms and sustainable, well-paid jobs. It is estimated that the driverless vehicle industry will be worth $90 billion globally by 2030. Getting our State involved early will open up new opportunities for South Australian businesses and our economy.” The initiative builds on SA’s previous achievements in this field, which saw the state stage the first on-road trials in the Southern Hemisphere and host the first international driverless car conference in Australia. SA also introduced Australian-first legislation to allow for on-road trials of autonomous vehicles. According to Mr Mullighan, the state government will only fund experiments conducted within the state, with overseas-based partners encouraged to participate by partnering with local SA small to medium enterprises, universities and other organisations. Australian Manufacturing

Austal to deliver mid-life remediation program to the Royal Australian Navy’s ACPB fleet Austal Australia has been awarded a contract to deliver a mid-life remediation program for the Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) fleet. Image credit: Austal The ACPB is a 56 metre all-aluminium monohull patrol boat. Austal is the original designer and builder of the Armidale Class; the company delivered 14 ACPBs from 2005 to 2007. According to the official announcement, starting this month, the company will undertake a number of hull remediation and configuration changes as well as planned and corrective maintenance work on up to seven (7) ACPB’s at its Henderson, Western Australia shipyard. “As the original designer and builder of the Armidale Class, Austal is in an ideal position to deliver this important, mid-life enhancement work to a proven naval platform. Our inherent knowledge base and practical experience building and servicing the hard working Armidale fleet will ensure the vessels depart Austal in 2017 as a fully operational and effective capability,” said Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton. “This order is indeed timely for Austal and ensures that key skills in naval shipbuilding and repair are maintained in Henderson during the lead up to the placement of the Offshore Patrol Vessel contract. Once again, by winning this competitively bid contract, we have demonstrated that Australian shipbuilding can be internationally competitive.” Australian Manufacturing

Volkswagen to replace conventional freighters with LNG-powered vessels for marine transport of vehicles The Volkswagen Group has decided the use environmentally friendly transportation for its vehicles in an effort to improve the environmental balance of its marine transport fleet. Image credit: www.volkswagenag.com As of 2019, the Group will transport its vehicles with two LNG-powered Siem Car Carriers vessels on routes between Europe and North America. Additionally, the carmaker also revealed that it intends to transfer vehicle and material transport in Europe increasingly from trucks to lower-emission means of transport such as ships in the future. “The Volkswagen Group is shouldering its responsibility for the environment. This not only applies to our cars but also to our production and logistics. We are pooling all our efforts to improve environmental compatibility in Logistics under the term Green Logistics,” said Wolfram Thomas, Head of Group Production. “By commissioning the two LNG-powered freighters for the route between Europe and North America, Volkswagen Group Logistics is forging ahead with environmentally compatible, resource-efficient transport.“ The two LNG-powered vessels have a capacity to carry about 4,500 vehicles, which is comparable to conventional transatlantic freighters. Both ships will be equipped with a 12,600 kW engine developed by MAN Diesel & Turbo. Thomas Zernechel, Head of Group Logistics, said the move will reduce emissions per ship and year by up to 25% in the case of CO2, up to 30% in the case of NOx, and up to 60% in the case of particulate matters (PM). SOx emissions will be cut by as much as 100%. According to him, the use of a dual-fuel marine engine with direct injection and exhaust gas treatment will also help reduce emissions. “Compared with other means of transport, marine shipping is one of the most efficient possibilities. Volkswagen Group Logistics already transports half of the vehicles produced by sea. We are continuously working on the optimization of our marine transport systems. The chartered vessels on which a decision has already been taken are the first milestone.” Mr Zernechel added. “The possibility of changing other vehicle transport vessels chartered by Volkswagen over to LNG operation will depend on the availability of the necessary infrastructure. Apart from LNG as an alternative fuel, we are also working on other projects which will continuously make our logistics processes more environmentally compatible.” Australian Manufacturing

End of an era: Ford shuts down Broadmeadows and Geelong plants The last Aussie-made Ford vehicle has rolled off the production line in Broadmeadows on Friday, signaling the beginning of the end of carmaking in Australia. Image credit: Ford Australia Facebook page Ford has officially closed its factories in Geelong and Broadmeadows after 91 years of manufacturing, leaving a total of 600 employees out of work. The Premier of Victoria, Mr Daniel Andrews, labeled Ford’s deprture as “a very sad and difficult day for workers”, many of whom have spent their entire working lives at Ford. “Our thoughts are with them, their families and the many others in Ford’s supply chain who will also be affected by the closure,” Mr Andrews said. “Labor Governments have always supported automotive manufacturing in Victoria and we are doing all we can to help workers, businesses, and communities through this very difficult period.” He said it was “absolutely paramount” that all levels of government work together to help workers and businesses during the difficult transition. “The Andrews Labor Government is providing $46.5 million of targeted assistance, including programs and training for auto workers, businesses and local communities hardest hit,” the Premier added. “The experience of Ford employees will provide a valuable benchmark for all other workers such as those at Holden, Toyota and supply chain companies as they make a similar transition.” Despite pulling the plug on all manufacturing operations, Ford will remain present in the country through its Asia-Pacific Product Development Centre which will be located at its Broadmeadows headquarters. “Ford will continue to employ approximately 1,500 people in Victoria and will retain its Asia-Pacific Product Development Centre and parts warehouse at Broadmeadows, its Research and Development Centre at Geelong, and its proving ground at Lara,” Mr Andrews concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Holden ends Cruze production in Australia Australia’s last locally-built Holden Cruze rolled off the assembly line at the Elizabeth assembly plant in South Australia, as Holden winds down its operation ahead of its announced closure next year. Image credit: media.gm.com The company’s Chairman and Managing Director Mark Bernhard thanked Holden’s employees for their contribution towards designing and launching building Australia’s locally-made small car. “Those who were involved in the Cruze project have a strong, and deserved, sense of pride at what was achieved in terms of project development, management, engineering, design and, of course, production,” Mr Bernard said. “Holden’s business is changing and we are building a bright future, but it is equally important to recognise and honour our people and our heritage. We’re incredibly proud of our manufacturing history and our legacy; I want to thank every Holden employee, and all those people in the supply chain, for their personal contribution to our industry and our company.0 Holden has donated the final Cruze hatch and final sedan to its long-time charity partner, the Leukaemia Foundation, which will raffle the cars to fundraise for patient transport services and The end of Cruze production marks the end of employment for around 270 Holden employees, who will leave the business by the end of November on a voluntary basis. Holden said each employee has been given “access to a suite of transition services” and up to $3000 in approved training as part of the company’s $15 million contribution to the government’s Growth Fund which was established to assist those affected by the end of local car manufacturing. Holden will continue to build the world-class Commodore at Elizabeth until late 2017, after which it will shut down all manufacturing operations but will retain its sales and marketing operations, spare parts organisation, world-class design studios and an ongoing engineering department. Australian Manufacturing

ACCC releases statement of issues on competing proposals for Glencore’s coal haulage network The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced that it will be seeking public submission on the proposals from Aurizon and Pacific National to acquire Glencore’s GRail coal haulage network in the Hunter Valley. Image credit: accc.gov.au The two proposals came after Glencore announced that it is putting up its coal haulage business for sale as part of its debt reduction plan. The ACCC has released a combined statement of issues on the alternative proposals in an effort to assess the proposals against the alternative scenario of a new player entering the market by acquiring GRail. “The Hunter Valley coal haulage market appears to have high barriers to entry, so we would expect the addition of a third competitor to have a significant effect upon the market. This has been supported by market feedback. In contrast, an acquisition by Aurizon or Pacific National would essentially be a continuation of the status quo where there are two active players in the Hunter Valley coal haulage market,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said. “Aurizon and Pacific National were both sponsored into each other’s coal haulage markets in Queensland and New South Wales and there has been little or no new entry before or since. There are some examples of coal producers acquiring their own rolling stock, but Glencore Coal is the only Hunter Valley coal producer to have done so for a majority of its coal haulage requirements.” The consumer watchdog invited responses to the statement by 21 October 2016, setting a provisional date for a final decision on 15 December 2016. “Glencore is now selling that rolling stock along with a long-term haulage contract. Coupled with the fact that Glencore Coal is the largest coal producer in the Hunter Valley, this is a platform for entry that is unlikely to be replicated in the foreseeable future,” Mr Sims added. “However, the ACCC also recognises that coal producers are generally well-resourced, sophisticated parties that may be able to protect their own interests, even if Aurizon or Pacific National acquires GRail. We are going to be exploring their ability to leverage competition between Aurizon and Pacific National or to bypass both haulage providers by acquiring their own rolling stock or by sponsoring new entry.” Australian Manufacturing

Versatile robo reef protector to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef Foundation has joined forces with QUT roboticists Drs Matthew Dunbabin and Feras Dayoub to enter the COTSbot into Google’s Impact Challenge, which helps not-for-profit organisations develop technologies that can help address the world’s biggest social challenges. The COTSbotImage credit: wiki.qut.edu.au The COTSbot is an autonomous underwater vehicle that was designed to increase the efficiency of Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) eradication. The primary task of the COTSbot is to autonomously navigate within complex reef environments and automatically detect COTS on the coral and administer an injection. The Foundation – which has been named as one of 10 finalists and is now in the running for one of four $750,000 grants – said a positive outcome of the challenge will see the team focus its efforts on transforming the COTSbot into RangerBot, a low-cost, vision enabled autonomous underwater vehicle for monitoring a wide range of issues facing coral reefs. “This project is about giving those looking after our coral reefs the tools they need to protect these precious resources,” the Foundation’s Managing Director, Anna Marsden, said. “More than a billion people depend on reefs for their food and livelihood – they stand to lose the most if those important ecosystems are destroyed. We want to put the cost-effective, flexible RangerBot into the hands of the people at the front line of looking after and managing coral reefs, as extra ‘hands and eyes’ to manage those critical environments.” The 10 finalists will present their projects to a panel of judges on Wednesday October 26. They will be assessed on their impact, technology and innovation, scalability and feasibility. “Environmental robotics is a real passion of ours and we see so much potential for these advanced technologies to transform the way we protect our world’s precious reefs,” said Dr Dunbabin, from QUT’s Institute for Future Environments and Science and Engineering Faculty. “A $750,000 prize would allow us to expand our current platform’s functionality into a truly multipurpose, multifunction tool for monitoring a wide range of issues facing coral reefs – coral bleaching, water quality, pest species, pollution and siltation included. It will stay under the water almost three times longer than a human diver, gather vastly more data, and operate in all conditions and all times of the day or night.” According to him, the RangerBot could also assist in mapping expansive underwater areas using innovative vision-based technologies. “This represents a quantum technology leap in both marine robotics and reef protection – the only autonomous, affordable, multifunction solution for effectively detecting and addressing threats to coral reefs, making RangerBot widely available and accessible to reef communities worldwide,” he added. “I guess you could call RangerBot the Swiss Army Knife of marine robotics.” Ms Marsden said the RangerBot could play a key role in maintaining the health of the Great Barrier Reef, which has lost half its coral cover over the past 30 years. “Even though the Great Barrier Reef is internationally acknowledged as the best managed reef globally, due to its size and complexity, effective management is a mammoth and expensive task,” she said. “RangerBot has the potential to revolutionise the way we manage our oceans and may be a missing piece in the puzzle to save our precious reefs.” Australian Manufacturing

Imagine IM & Austeng take home AEEA Victoria Innovation Award Geelong’s premier engineering company, Austeng and Australia’s leading graphene commercialisation company, Imagine IM were jointly honoured at the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards, Victoria. Image credit: www.austeng.net.au The two companies have won the award for Innovation, Research and Development for the development of the first commercial graphene plant in Australia, which is located in Geelong. Austeng’s Managing Director Ross George accepted the award on behalf of the two companies. “This award highlights that local manufacturing can transition into high value-add, advancing technology given the right circumstances. Austeng thanks Imagine IM for the confidence shown in Austeng,” Mr George said. “Imagine IM has very much shown the way forward by recognizing and embracing this new technology collaborating with universities on research, joining with local engineering/manufacturing and bringing on board a launch customer. This collaborative model has enabled Australia to take its place as a world leader in commercialisation of graphene.” Phil Aitchison, Head of R&D and Operations at Imagine IM said the award recognises the importance of graphene to advanced manufacturing in Australia. “Our innovative ideas and drive to bring graphene to the market are showing that Australia can be a world leader in manufacturing,” Mr Aitchison. “Graphene is a platform technology and Imagine and Austeng have taken graphene out of the laboratory and into commercial application. We shall continue to advance our roadmap for large scale industrial uses of graphene for sensing and in smart materials.” Entries were judged on several different criteria, including the contribution of the work to the economy, the impact of the work on the quality of life of the relevant communities, the significance of the work as a benchmark of Australian engineering, the extent to which the work represents world best practise. The Geelong plant will have a production output of up to 10 tonnes per year. The first product to be made in the plant is imgne(R) X3, a conductive coating for geotextiles which enables low cost and environmentally friendly leak detection in dam and landfill liners. The product has already been subjected to field trials and will be commercially released by Geofabrics Australasia. Australian Manufacturing

Quickstep achieves record manufacturing output for JSF program Quickstep has set a monthly record for the manufacture of parts for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Program (JSF). Image credit: http://ift.tt/23mddD6 The company, which manufacturers advanced carbon fibre composites, announced that manufacturing output for the JSF program exceeded a rate of 100 parts per month for the first time in September 2016, with 108 parts made. “Quickstep’s Aerospace Manufacturing business has continued to increase scale, and has exceeded the JSF 100 part milestone earlier than anticipated. This compares with 590 parts completed during the previous financial year,” said Quickstep’s CEO and Managing Director, Mr David Marino. “We are now well-positioned and have confirmed our capacity and capability to meet further JSF ramp-up. This performance has led to increased orders with our current customers, proving Quickstep’s ability to deliver additional contract volume.” The company successfully delivered 256 parts during the September quarter and is confident it will be able to meet the continuing ramp up for the JSF program. “The Aerospace Manufacturing business will complete further capital works in calendar 2016 to increase capacity for the planned growth, supporting improved production efficiencies,” it said in a press release. “Capital works to date have enabled the passing of the 100 parts per month milestone ahead of schedule.” Quickstep is Northrop Grumman’s the principal supplier for 21 JSF components including doors, panels, skins and other composite parts, and also the supplier of JSF vertical tail components for BAE Systems and Marand Precision Engineering. Australian Manufacturing

Stratasys accepts entries for the 2017 Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge Stratasys has officially launched the 13th Annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge with a formal call for entries. Image credit: mms.businesswire.com According to the 3D printing giant, this year’s challenge is fully supported by the power of GrabCAD – the market’s premier digital manufacturing hub – helping designers and engineers to build products faster by linking people, content and technology. The challenge invites scholars across a range of disciplines, including engineering, design, and art, jewellery and architecture, to create an original piece – or redesign an existing work – leveraging the power of 3D printing. Individuals or design teams are asked to create entries using 3D CAD software, sign up for a free GrabCAD Community account, and then submit files in STL format through the GrabCAD Challenge platform – along with a description highlighting the design’s value and benefit. The contest requires all designs to be mechanically sound, realistic and achievable, with entries to be judged based on mechanical design, design creativity, product usefulness, aesthetics (art, jewellery and architecture category) and compelling description. Stratasys has awarded more than $140,000 in scholarships since the annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge started 13 years ago. According to the company, this year’s event will see first-place winners in every category receive $2,500 scholarships. Second place winners will receive $1,000 scholarships, with the top 10 submissions in each category to earn a Stratasys apparel item (value up to $50) and a 3D printed model of their design. Additionally, all teams and individuals will receive an official Extreme Redesign T-Shirt. “Critical to this year’s event is the support of GrabCAD – consistently making life easier for product designers, engineers, students, and manufacturing professionals. Since 2010, millions of engineers have made the GrabCAD Community their own by sharing CAD files and design tips, participating in design challenges, or downloading free CAD models to avoid starting from scratch. Over the years, GrabCAD has hosted 100s of engineering and design challenges with companies such as GE, NASA, and Microtechnologies, as well as Stratasys Education, Stratasys Medical and MakerBot,” the company said in a statement. “For the second year running, the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centres (NCATC) is also bestowing a $1,000 scholarship to a winning entry in the post-secondary engineering category for an NCATC member school. NCATC is a network of higher education resources promoting use of technology applications to enhance economic and workforce development programs and services.” If you are interested in becoming part of this year’s exciting event, visit the Extreme Redesign Page on the Stratasys Website or go directly to GrabCAD. Australian Manufacturing

Hidden costs can hurt manufacturers moving production offshore, says law firm Cowell Clarke A growing number of Australian manufacturers are considering the option of moving their operations offshore in search of greater profits. Image credit: Cowell Clarke Facebook page Attracted by the considerably lower base production costs in underdeveloped countries, many Australian businesses opted to shift production offshore without properly assessing the risk involved. While the move has worked out handsomely for some, others didn’t have it easy. And according to commercial law firm Cowell Clarke, this is down to the ‘hidden costs’ that many manufacturers fail to anticipate. “Many local manufacturers have taken advantage of cheaper overseas production costs in the hunt for greater efficiencies and profits,” Cowell Clarke Chairman of Partners Brett Cowell said. “Done right, it can be a very astute move and help open up new sales networks into global markets. However, offshore manufacturing is not the silver bullet for every Australian operator under cost pressure.” He said the benefits of lower production costs can be easily offset by “a number of unexpected expenses”. “Difficulties in communication, blow-outs in set up costs, additional ‘political’ or administrative requirements and large minimum quantity demands can add significantly to the cost of offshore production,” Mr Cowell said. “Offshore manufacturing can also expose the company to greater IP theft risk and quality control inconsistencies. In some cases, when you crunch the numbers, the company may have been better off remaining on home soil.” The Adelaide-based law firm – which provides support to Australian companies operating in foreign counties through its membership in the global legal network, ALFA International – has produced a list of Top Ten Behaviours of Successful Offshore manufacturers based on experiences of its clients. Shop around “It pays to research the right partner that will deliver to your requirements, support your goals and protect your business interests. Don’t just default to the first manufacturer that shows interest,” Mr Cowell said. Seek out inbuilt expertise and experience “It your offshore partner manufactures products similar to your own, it will already have a level of inbuilt expertise and experience, implying fewer growing pains in adapting to your manufacturing requirements.” Retain tight quality checks “Hands-on checking of samples and products made by the manufacturer is important in determining if the quality meets your standards. In general, the greater level of control and interaction you need, the higher the cost is likely to be.” Social proof “Speak with other customers who use this manufacturer to find out what it’s like to work with them. Read as many reviews and recommendations as you can.” Protect your design and ideas “Patent, design and trademark registration is important, as is consideration over how you will protect any trade secrets. In any manufacturing contract, make sure that these are protected, as well as any IP developed as a result of working together.” Be aware of pricing inclusions and exclusions “Be across production of samples, including the cost, before proceeding with full run production. The cost implications of additional product refinements and minimum run quantities can erode margins.” Keep in close communication “You’ll need to work closely with your manufacturer for new stock orders, lead times, product quality issues and delivery. A comfortable two-way communication channel that is responsive and timely is vital.” Understand cost of time “Production lead times can make or break a business or product launch, impacting cash flows, customer relationships and reputation and giving competitors an edge. Be clear on best case and worst case scenarios and plan around this.” Contract the right business “Make sure that you are entering a contract with a proper foreign entity and you have measures in place to protect your interests. ’Off the shelf’ or ‘off the internet’ contracts are rarely the right choice.” Be prepared for problems “Product liability and warranty needs to be addressed in your contract via insurance policies. Indemnity provisions are common, so consult with an experienced lawyer to ensure that you get this right.” Australian Manufacturing

Toowoomba-based manufacturer wins $250,000 grant to develop medical device for people with swallowing disorder Medical devices manufacturer Bayro No. 1 has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas fund to accelerate the development of an innovative feeding device for people who have difficulty swallowing. Image credit: tp-graphics.com.au Announcing the grant award, Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said the device – named ‘RoseCup’ – could improve the quality of life of millions of people suffering from dysphagia. “More than one million Australians and an estimated 18 million Americans have dysphagia – or difficulty swallowing – due to stroke, brain injury, head or neck cancer, advancing age, and diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons,” Ms Enoch noted. “Hospital admissions are costly and it can be terribly difficult for people to be fed through the stomach or nose, so there are very good social and economic reasons to scale up the production of RoseCup.” The RoseCup is a simple but ingenious device for people who cannot swallow solid food or drink safely and are at risk of dehydration, pneumonia, malnutrition and dying. Bayro’s Managing Director Dr Gabriel Roux, who designed the RoseCup, has spent years developing the device, working with caregivers, speech pathologists, nutritionists and local food and plastics manufacturers. “The only feeding options on the market for dysphagic patients are made from hard plastic and these don’t protect the airways sufficiently. They overlook the simple, intuitive way we all learned to feed – the principle of sucking before swallowing.” Dr Roux explained. “The cup’s unique flow and volume control as well as soft silicone spout makes swallowing safer for the patient and the job easier for the caregiver. I’m optimistic the RoseCup and the nutritious food range we’ve created (NutriTaste) will become part of best practice for feeding regimes in hospitals and aged-care facilities worldwide.” He said the grant money will be used to assist in undertaking market and research testing and to further develop the product. “The funding allows us to do things now instead of down the track, and help us to reinvest and expand the business in new areas. Initially, RoseCup NutriTaste will be rolled out in South East Queensland which has almost 300 residential aged care facilities, and then country-wide,” Dr Roux added. “We have also received significant international interest in the product range. Several international patents have already been awarded and we hope to export to both first and third-world countries around the globe.” The Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas program provides assistance for businesses with fewer than 200 staff that have a working prototype with enough features to support testing and further development. Australian Manufacturing

Victoria en route to become important electric vehicle hub Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, has confirmed the first group of successful recipients of the Andrews Labor Government’s $20 million New Energy Job Fund grant. Image credit: www.seaauto.com.au According to the Minister, Victorian automotive technology company SEA Automotive is the recipient of one of the 24 grants that will be announced in the coming months. The company will receive $516,720 in funding under the Manufacturing category, and will use the finances to support its work producing electric powered commercial vehicles. The funding will finance the first stage of a commercial electric vehicle manufacturing facility, with a view to developing an innovative range of electric powered commercial vehicles. The initiative is expected to create around 80 high-skill jobs in the Geelong region over the next four years. Ms D’Ambrosio said the Labor Government registered a strong interest in the $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund with applicants providing ideas for clean energy projects that will position Victoria as a leader in new energy technologies. “This remarkable project will cement Victoria as an electric vehicle powerhouse,” the Minister added. “We’re proud to be rebuilding much needed confidence in the renewable energy industry while providing jobs for automotive assembly workers.” Member for Geelong Christine Couzens said the grant award was a welcome development for Geelong, considering the imminent Ford closure. “This is an extremely important announcement for the Geelong community and we welcome these new jobs, particularly in light of the upcoming Ford closure,” she said. New Energy Job Fund forms a key part of the Government’s $200 million Future Industries Fund that was established to support high growth, high value industries. Australian Manufacturing

Organovo sets out to develop 3D bioprinted liver for direct transplantation to patients 3D biology company Organovo Holdings, Inc. has unveiled plans to develop 3D bioprinted human liver tissue for direct transplantation to patients. Image credit: Organovo Facebook page According to the company, the program to develop this therapeutic tissue is based on the strong results in preclinical studies in animal models showing engraftment, vascularisation and sustained functionality of its bioprinted liver tissue, including stable detection of liver-specific proteins and metabolic enzymes. Organovo said it intends to develop clinical solutions in two initial areas. “First, acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a recognised and distinct orphan disease entity encompassing an acute deterioration of liver function in patients with liver disease, which affects 150,000 patients annually in the United States,” the company said in a press release. “Second, paediatric metabolic liver diseases represent another orphan disease indication where a bioprinted liver tissue patch may show therapeutic benefits. The total addressable market opportunity for these initial indication areas exceeds $3 billion.” If the development progresses as expected, the company will submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its therapeutic liver tissue in three to five years. Organovo’s CEO Keith Murphy, who will be presenting bioprinted human liver at the 2016 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa in La Jolla, California, said the company was excited to introduce an implantable bioprinted liver tissue as the first preclinical candidate in its therapeutic tissue portfolio. “The scientific and commercial progress we have already made with ExViveTM Human Liver Tissue in drug toxicity testing has given us a firm foundation upon which to build a larger tissue for transplant,” Mr Murphy said. “Advancing our first therapeutic tissue into preclinical development is an important milestone for Organovo, and it speaks to the power of our technology platform in addressing multiple applications, including preclinical safety, disease modelling and tissue replacement products for surgical implantation. We believe that 3D bioprinted tissues have an opportunity to provide options for patients who suffer from liver disorders.” Mr Eric Michael David, the Organovo’s chief strategy officer and executive vice president of preclinical development, said the company’s approach was tailored to overcome many of the challenges that cell therapies and conventional tissue engineering have struggled to address, including limited engraftment and significant migration of cells away from the liver. “In our preclinical studies, we deliver a patch of functional tissue directly to the liver, which integrates well, remains on the liver and maintains functionality. We believe our tissues have the potential to extend the lives of patients on liver transplant lists, or those who do not qualify for transplants due to other factors,” he said. Organovo is also conducting early research on other tissues for therapeutic use in direct surgical applications. Liver tissue has been prioritised as the Company’s first program for preclinical development, having ranked highly in an initial strategic assessment performed by Organovo considering technical feasibility, commercial opportunity, clinical, regulatory, and reimbursement factors. “Preclinical ‘proof-of-concept’ is currently being pursued in additional areas, building on the breadth of Organovo’s leading bioprinting expertise,” reads the press release. Australian Manufacturing

Victorian manufacturer raises small business export loan to accelerate international growth Victorian polyethylene pipe butt welding equipment manufacturer, Worldpoly, has successfully resolved one of the main issue facing Australian manufacturers when it comes to exporting. Image provided Financing their export opportunities has proved to be a stumbling block for many Australian businesses, who often lack the necessary means to fund such ventures because of the high costs involved in maintaining state-of-the-art machinery and purchasing the raw materials needed to meet large export orders. This means that small to medium sized manufacturers are often in need of funding support to meet international demand, which represents a problem in itself, as banks require levels of cash flow that many of them can’t meet. Worldpoly Managing Director and owner Rob Hall said the company had identified an opportunity to establish a new distributor in South Africa, but had been unable to draw funds from their bank due to the cash flow nature of extended terms to a foreign country. In their search for new source of finance, the company has turned to Efic – the Federal Government’s export credit agency – which provides Small Business Export Loans with flexible repayment terms. “Efic’s funding allowed us to send our machines to a new distributor in South Africa. The Small Business Export Loan from Efic made this sale possible, and has allowed us to facilitate more stock in South Africa,” Mr Hall said. “The online portal, EficDirect, was straightforward, easy and self-explanatory all the way through. It gave me a sufficient degree of predictability on the loan that I was able to commit myself to the sale in negotiations with the client. Once we started the online application we were able to save it and return to it. Then once it was submitted, we were able to track the application through to completion.” Marketing Manager Nikita Hall described the company’s dealings with Efic as “fantastic”. “Our experience with Efic from the start has been fantastic. There’s always been help available. The people have been very real, which is refreshing,” she said. “The key to Worldpoly’s success is our passion for the industry, and the fact that we’re never scared of a challenge. We project our partnership in South Africa will grow substantially over the next few years and will allow us to expand further into Sub-Saharan Africa.” Established in 2000, Worldpoly’s history began in 1959 when Tom Hall made the first polyethylene pipe in the Southern Hemisphere. From small beginnings, Worldpoly now exports to over 108 countries worldwide, accounting for about 70% of total business. Australian Manufacturing

Kabuku and Honda jointly developed 3D printed vehicle for confectionary delivery purposes Kabuku and Honda have joined forces to develop a 3D printed vehicle for confectionery specialists Toshimaya, which faced a problem of finding a delivery vehicle that could be used for local deliveries and also for economical advertisement. Image credit: www.kabuku.co.jp Toshimaya’s head office in Kamakura is located amidst a maze of narrow roads which present a serious challenge for their home delivery business. The company, which has been using a standard vehicle for delivery purposes because the development of a promotional vehicle is time consuming and costly, needed a more practical solution that will answer its delivery needs while also providing an attractive advertising platform. Kabuku, a Tokyo-based startup that explores new uses for 3D printing, was able to provide a mass customised original vehicle by responding to Toshimaya’s individual needs for design, engineering and manufacturing by utilising 3D printers. “For this joint development, Kabuku took advantage of the “Rinkak Mass Customisation Solution” to provide on-demand digital manufacturing of customised products to meet a variety of user needs by offering comprehensive body design, engineering and manufacturing options,” the company said in a press release. “Also, the total development process was shortened to about two months while still offering an original vehicle with reduced time and costs. By using “Rinkak Mass Customisation Solutions”, the project could take advantage of rapid 3D design, a mould-less development process for 3D printers and a digital manufacturing factory network.” This 3D printed vehicle will be exhibited from Tuesday, 4 October to Friday, 7 October at CEATEC JAPAN 2016 which is being held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. Australian Manufacturing

SA jobseekers boosted with new employment and training centre Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher has announced the opening of a new ‘one-shop-stop’ for employment, training and education that will provide South Australian jobseekers will an unprecedented access to job vacancies on the $985 million Northern Connector project. Image credit: SA Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure Commenting on the importance of the ‘NorthHub’ facility, Mr Fletcher said it set a new benchmark for local industry participation on public infrastructure projects in South Australia. “This facility is an innovative way to ensure local communities are receiving the full range of benefits major infrastructure projects can provide, and that includes employment opportunities,” the Minister added. Senator for South Australia David Fawcett said “NorthHub will provide support for around 480 jobs each year in a wide variety of roles such as civil and formwork construction workers, administrative professionals, safety professionals, project engineers, site supervisors, and trainees and apprentices. “The service can be accessed both online and in person at the Northern Connector project site at Waterloo Corner, where jobseekers can speak directly to staff about the opportunities on offer,” Mr Fawcett added. SA Premier Jay Weatherill noted that several Holden workers were among the 70 new South Australian employees already working on the project. “NorthHub will be vital in ensuring that local people benefit most from this major transport infrastructure project, and we have made a commitment that more than half the workforce will be from the northern suburbs,” the Premier said. “NorthHub will provide opportunities for locals to find work or train towards gaining employment on the project which is critical for an area experiencing higher unemployment than other parts of the state and which is facing the impending closure of the Holden factory.” South Australian Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said positions were already being advertised and filled via the NorthHub website, which supports the on-site facility. “Jobs are already currently listed and available and are expected to increase when major construction on the project gets underway shortly,” Mr Mullighan added. “Interested jobseekers can register for expressions of interest online to receive alerts when jobs become available.” The Northern Connector project – which is being jointly funded by the Australian Government ($788 million) and the South Australian Government ($197 million) – is a 15-kilometre expressway travelling from the North-South Motorway to the Max Fatchen Expressway. Australian Manufacturing

GE introduces first-of-its-kind battery storage & gas turbine hybrid with SCE GE and its long-standing customer Southern California Edison (SCE) have unveiled a plan to install the world’s first battery storage and gas turbine hybrid. GE’s hybrid LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine and battery storage systemImage credit: www.genewsroom.com According to Phil Herrington, Vice President of Generation for SCE, the two-project solution first involves the installation of a battery energy storage system from Current, powered by GE, followed by upgrades to a GE LM6000 gas turbine to integrate the two systems. “GE’s new LM6000 Hybrid EGT product fits well with SCE’s objective of providing cost–effective, innovative solutions that enhance grid reliability, flexibility, and fast response for our customers,” Mr Herrington said. Scheduled to be deployed at two SCE sites in the coming months, the LM6000 Hybrid EGT was developed in response to changing regulations and grid requirements in the wake of California’s Aliso Canyon energy crisis earlier this year. Eric Gebhardt, Chief Platforms & Operations Officer for Current, powered by GE, said the solution answers a critical need for Southern California, where regulations on natural gas usage and storage are changing in the wake of the aforementioned energy crisis. He said GE’s Power Services and Current businesses worked to develop the joint solution in a competitive offer in collaboration with Wellhead Power Solutions, LLC. “This was truly a best-in-class joint effort by Southern California Edison, our partners at Wellhead Power Solutions, and multiple GE businesses to enhance our technology and add Current’s battery storage system to existing GE turbines,” Mr Gebhardt added. “As a team, we worked together to quickly provide a complete scope of the challenge and find a solution in a very short time frame. Now we can bring this same technology to other GE gas turbine customers around the world.” Paul McElhinney, President and CEO of GE’s Power Services, said the LM6000 Hybrid EGT product integrates a 10 MW battery energy storage system from Current and an existing GE LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine with control system upgrades provided by GE’s Power Services. He said system will allow the turbine to operate in standby mode without using fuel and enable immediate response to changing energy dispatch needs. According to him, the LM6000 Hybrid EGT will save fuel, reduce maintenance costs and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the need to constantly run the turbines at minimum loads to maintain spinning reserves. “We are excited to launch this innovative hybrid solution to provide immediate power, increase the flexibility of our gas turbines, leverage new software controls solutions and increase customer competitiveness,” Mr McElhinney continued. “With our total plant solutions capabilities, we are able to help California increase its grid efficiency and help SCE deliver more affordable energy in a changing marketplace.” According to GE’s press release, the battery energy storage system is expected to be installed and operational by the end of 2016, with the updated and integrated turbine controls scheduled to be operational in early 2017. Australian Manufacturing

Manufacturing recovers momentum in September Australia’s manufacturing sector has recovered from its dip in August driven primarily by increased activity in food and beverage manufacturing. Image credit: aigroup.com.au The Australian Industry Group’s performance of manufacturing index (PMI) rose by 2.9 points to 49.8 points in September, primarily influenced by the food & beverages sub-sectors which accounted for around 28% of all manufacturing output. According to Ai Group’s report, three of the seven activity sub-indexes expanded in September, with production (52.6 points), deliveries (56.4 points) and sales (51.4 points) all above the 50-point mark separating expansion from contraction. Employment (46.7 points) and stocks (44.3 points) contracted again in September and were joined by new orders which slipped to (48.3 points). Five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded in September, including printing & recorded media (62.8 points), petroleum & chemical products (52.7 points), metal products (51.3 points), food & beverages (52.8 points) and machinery & equipment (52.8 points). The report notes that comments from manufacturers in September indicate a steady improvement in demand and exports in some sectors after last month’s slump. “Variability in the exchange rate and persisting oversupply in some markets is curbing activity,” reads the report. “Margin pressures appear to be intensifying due to ongoing high input costs (particularly or imported inputs and energy). Lower government orders, the sharp fall-off in mining construction work and the completion of major infrastructure projects (with no imminent replacement projects in the pipeline) and wet weather in some locations has also dampened activity.” Australian Manufacturing

Hitachi makes $689m bid for Bradken Japanese giant Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) has submitted a $689 million takeover bid to acquire Bradken, an Australian supplier of mining equipment. Image credit: bradken.com The $3.25 a share offer, which was unanimously backed by the Bradken Board of Directors, represents a 34% premium to the company’s closing share price on Friday. The offer comes a year after Bradken knocked back a A$428 million takeover offer from Koch Industries Inc. and local private equity firm Pacific Equity, saying it didn’t reflect the company’s true value. If the deal goes through, Bradken will become part of Hitachi’s mining and industrial services business, with its head office expected to remain in Newcastle, NSW. HCM said the transaction will be funded from its cash reserves and bank borrowing. HCM was established in 1970 in Japan. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of construction mining machinery, as well as machinery consumables and parts. HCM’s majority shareholder is Hitachi Ltd, which owns approximately 50% interest in HCM. Bradken is a global manufacturer and supplier of differentiated consumable and capital products for the mining, transport, general industrial and contract manufacturing markets. The company specialises in manufacturing fully machined cast iron steel products across 3 operating divisions, employing almost 3,500 people in 24 manufacturing facilities and 28 sales and service centres internationally. Australian Manufacturing

Merging nano and biotechnology in quest for maximum value in food and medicine production An international workshop focusing on merging biotechnology, nanoscience and manufacturing to reduce costs and waste will be held at the University of Sydney on 5 – 6 October. Image credit: the University of Sydney Facebook page The ‘Advances in Biotechnology for Food and Metal Applications’ workshop will gather leading international experts who will discuss biotechnology – in particular micro and nano technologies – and their current and future applications in food and medicine manufacture. Organised by the University of Sydney’s ARC Food Processing Training Centre, the workshop will aim to establish practical applications in biotechnology and manufacturing processes to maximise value from raw materials, enhancing efficiency and reducing energy consumption. The Centre has been working with 12 industry partners to help its efforts to improve manufacturing technologies. It has conducted a series of successful researches on the production of nutraceuticals – by-products from food and waste than can provide additional health benefits as supplements – and has developed a range of high value products for the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disorders. “Workshop participants will discuss more cost-effective and sustainable methods of food production with a view to minimising waste and enhancing efficiency,” said Professor Fariba Dehghani, Director of ARC Food Processing Training Centre and co-convenor of the workshop. “Our aim is to open up new avenues for cross-disciplinary research between leading engineers, scientists, clinicians, and industry experts. Together we can find innovative solutions to bring benefits to industry and consumers alike. The delegates will discuss the gap between technology innovations and useful applications in biotechnology, as well as strategies to efficiently turn research innovations into commercial products. Representatives for the University’s flagship centres include the Charles Perkins Centre, the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, and the Institute for Biomedical Technologies. These will be joined by international delegates from world leading universities from around the globe, including Stanford University (USA), MIT (USA), Shanghai Jia Tong University, Nanyang University (Singapore), Nottingham University (UK), University of Mainz (Germany), Genoa University (Italy), Lorraine University (France), Lanzhou University (China), Northeastern University (USA), University of Auckland (New Zealand), and the University of Canterbury (New Zealand). Australian Manufacturing

L’Oréal and Poietis to combat hair loss with 3D printed follicles French cosmetics giant L’Oréal has entered into an exclusive research partnership with 3D bioprinting startup Poietis to explore the possibility of bioprinting a functional follicle capable of producing hair. Image credit: www.loreal.com The research will utilise Poietis’ laser-assisted technology which can position cells in 3D with extremely high cellular resolution and cellular viability by layering micro-drops of bioinks with a laser beam. The resulting biological tissue will then be required to mature for around 3 weeks before it can be used in tests. José Cotovio, Director of Predictive Methods and Models department, L’Oréal Recherche & Innovation, said the combination of this exclusive technology with L’Oréal’s expertise in hair biology could yield groundbreaking advances in the areas of hair biology and hair engineering. “For L’Oréal, the combination of our respective areas of expertise opens up the possibility of previously unheard of achievements in the field of hair,” Mr Cotovio said. “This research partnership is very stimulating for the Advanced Research teams.” Fabien Guillemot, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer at Poietis said the research partnership offers exciting perspectives at a time when conventional tissue engineering technologies remain limited in terms of the complexity of cell patterns. “We’re very proud to be working with L’Oréal. The fact that a world-renowned company is adopting our technology is a major step for Poietis,” Mr Guillemot added. “Our partnership with L’Oréal should lead to the development of innovative applications in terms of tissue engineering.” Australian Manufacturing

Lockheed Martin Australia selected as combat system integrator for DCNS subs The Australian Government has contracted French shipbuilder DCNS to commence the design phase of Australia’s new fleet of submarines. Image credit: dcnsgroup.com The deal marks the start of the $50 billion future submarine program, which will also see Lockheed Martin Australia work alongside DCNS as preferred combat system integrator for the project. Announcing the news on Friday, the Minister for Defence Industry, Mr Christopher Pyne, said the contract was signed ahead of schedule and signalled better times for Australian Defence industry. “Mobilisation and design activities will mark the start of the Future Submarine Program, with work also commencing to maximise Australian industry involvement and early planning for the construction of the Submarines in Australia,” Mr Pyne said. “Involvement of Australian industry in the Future Submarine Program is of vital importance to the construction and sustainment of the submarine fleet into the future, creating job opportunities across Australia. Minister for Defence, Marise Payne said the partnership between DCNS and Lockheed Martin Australia was expected to deliver a submarine that meets the country’s unique capability requirements, which include superior stealth and sensor performance. “This will be essential to meeting the security challenges we face over the coming decades as set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper,” she said. “We look forward to our cooperation with France and the United States to support the development of this most important Defence capability for our nation,’’ Minister Payne said. Mr Pyne said Australian industry will be directly involved in the highly technical work of designing and integrating the combat system for the Future Submarine, further developing Australia’s capability in this specialised area.” “This is another step towards building and harnessing the innovation potential of Australia’s defence industry, as outlined in our 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement,” he added. Lockheed Martin Australia’s participation in the Future Submarine Program is expected to create around 200 skilled Australian jobs during the design and build phases of the program. Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa’s Board of Directors sanction the company’s separation into two entities Alcoa Inc. Board of Directors has approved the completion of the company’s separation into two independent, publicly-traded companies. The new Alcoa logo for the Upstream company One of the companies will retain the name Alcoa and will consist of Alcoa’s upstream mining projects, including its bauxite, alumina, aluminium, casting and energy assets. The second company, which will be named Arconic when the transaction effectuates, will be a leading global provider of high-performance materials and engineer products to the aerospace, automotive and other growth industries, positioned for profitable growth. “Upon separation, Klaus Kleinfeld will serve as Arconic Chairman and CEO. Michael Morris will become non-executive Chairman of Alcoa Corporation and Roy Harvey, current Group President of the Alcoa Global Primary Products business, will be its CEO,” the company told the ASX. “As previously announced, the separation will occur by means of a pro rata distribution by Alcoa Inc. of 80.1 percent of the outstanding common stock of Alcoa Corporation. Arconic will retain 19.8 percent of Alcoa Corporation common stock. The distribution is intended to qualify as a tax-free transaction to Alcoa Inc. shareholders for US federal income tax purposes. The separation will become effective on 1 November 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Tasmania’s Agri-Food Plan 2016-2018 officially launched Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jeremy Rockliff has launched the state’s Agri-Food Plan 2016-2018 which was developed to grow Tasmania’s agriculture and food sector, including seafood. Image credit: dpipwe.tas.gov.au According to the Minister, the Plan lays out a number of initiatives for sustainably growing Tasmanian primary industries and creating regional jobs. “The plan includes initiatives in areas including: small business programs, energy, transport and freight, which contribute to the viability and growth of important agri-food sectors, and it includes an extension of the AgriGrowth Loan Scheme by an additional $10 million, to a total of $20 million, as part of the vision to grow agriculture,” Mr Rockliff said. He said the Scheme has funded a diverse range of agricultural projects including small fruit farm expansions, vineyard redevelopments, organic nut processing, expanded grazing operations, dam infrastructure, a farm retail outlet and boutique breweries. “A pilot of the $10 million Scheme to provide low interest loans to Tasmanian farm and agri-food businesses has been running for the past year and already there have been 15 loans approved worth a total of $7.465 million, we have four applications in progress worth another $2.144 million and a further six applicants working through the investigation stage,” the Minister explained. He said the Loan Scheme extension was expected to help deliver further economic benefits for the state. “The additional $10 million is expected to turn great ideas into long-term profitable businesses that will generate economic growth and jobs, particularly in regional Tasmania,” the Minister added. “The minimum loan amount has been increased from $30,000 to $100,000 while the maximum loan amount has increased from $1 million to $1.5 million. Applications for the AgriGrowth Loan Scheme have been extended until the end of September 2018.” Mr Rockliff said the Plan confirmed the commitment to working in partnership with the private sector – farmers, fishers, primary producers, processors, industry groups and agri-business – to keep delivering future policies and initiatives. “Tracking our progress is important and the Tasmanian Agri-Food ScoreCard provides extensive data on Tasmanian food production, including data on the value of agriculture and seafood production, the value added to packed and processed food along the chain and the markets into which the products are sold,” the Minister added. Tasmania’s Agri-Food Plan 2016-18 can be accessed online at: http://ift.tt/2dRLda4. Additional information, including Application Forms and Guidelines for the AgriGrowth Loan Scheme is available on http://ift.tt/2dnGs5B. Australian Manufacturing

Amphibian Aerospace Industries to open aircraft manufacturing facility in NSW International aircraft builder Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI) will open a $100 million aircraft manufacturing facility at the Central Coast Airport at Warnervale, creating thousands of jobs for the region. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2cOG7tD The company will re-locate its off-shore manufacturing from the United States to the Central Coast and become the first transport category aircraft manufacturer in Australia since World War 2. Announcing the news on Tuesday, NSW Premier Mike Baird said the new facility will create 240 direct jobs in aircraft manufacturing, as well as thousands of indirect jobs in auxiliary industries like parts supply, instrumentation, interior fitouts and avionics. “This is a great day for the Central Coast – this announcement means thousands of jobs for the region with a significant flow on to the Central Coast economy,” Premier Baird said. “The decision by AAI to locate here is a testament that NSW is Australia’s prime location for business growth and investment.” AAI, which is the Type Certificate holder to the HU-16 Models A-E and G-111 Albatross Amphibian Aircraft, will move its operations to a site at Central Coast Airport under a 40 year lease. Amphibian Aircraft Group President Khoa Hoang said the new manufacturing facility will focus on upgrading the Albatross with new Turboprop Engines, state of the art Full Glass Avionics Cockpit and some additional comfort features for its customers worldwide. “We could do this from numerous countries in the world but chose Australia because there is great available aviation engineering talent, we have support from the government and it is a stable political and legal environment,” he said. “It just made good sense to us to choose the Central Coast. It’s close to Sydney and Newcastle, it’s in a great location and it offers our employees a great lifestyle.” AAI will take about 5 years to set up on the Central Coast, and will be required to submit a Development Application for the facility which is on industrial zoned land. Australian Manufacturing

Victoria’s wine industry secures $720,000 funding boost Victoria’s vine industry has been given a $720,000 funding boost to increase its market share and improve wine tourism. Picture: http://ift.tt/yftkXj (Salvatore Vuono) The funding, which was awarded under the $1 million Wine Growth Fund (WGF), will support 41 projects across the state’s 21 distinct wine regions and is provided on an equal co-contribution basis. Announcing the funding support, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said 38 of the recommended projects are regionally based, with grants worth more than $677,000 and total project costs valued at close to $3 million. “With the Grand Final public holiday tomorrow, there has never been a better time to experience regional Victoria, try a nice drop and support our growers,” the Minister said on Thursday. “We’re proud to be supporting 41 innovative wine industry projects. This investment will support the sustainable growth of some of Victoria’s finest wine growers and producers. Victoria’s premium wine is the envy of the nation – that’s why we’re supporting the industry through our $1 million Wine Growth Fund, to ensure the world continues to demand our products.” According to the Minister, the successful projects range in scope from developing a wine app in the Alpine Valley, hosting a large scale food and wine event in Central Victoria, website development in the Loddon-Mallee and promoting Chinese wine tourism in the Yarra Valley. The WGF supports grants of up to $20,000 for individual organisations and $50,000 for collaborative projects. It forms a key part of the Labor Government’s $1 million election commitment to boost the wine industry, which includes the Wine Industry Development Strategy and the formation of the Wine Industry Ministerial Advisory Committee. Victoria’s wine industry comprises 800 wineries and 3,000 vineyards, employing 12,000 people and generating $1.5 billion each year. Australian Manufacturing

dorsaVi awarded Future Industries Manufacturing grant to fast track development of local manufacturing facilities Melbourne based dorsaVi Limited has been awarded a A$350,000 grant under the Victorian Government’s Future Industries Manufacturing program which was established to help Victorian companies implement new manufacturing technologies and processes to facilitate growth. Image credit: dorsaVi Facebook page Commenting on the grant award, dorsaVi’s CEO Andrew Ronchi said money will be used to fund the company’s new manufacturing facilities, equipment and staff in its Jolimont premises that are required to bring the next generation of its wearable medical-grade sensors to market. “The grant will allow dorsaVi to complete the facility sooner than originally anticipated,” Mr Ronchi said. “This initiative will greatly assist the scale and speed of manufacturing of the world-leading wearables.” According to the company’s statement to the ASX, the new facility will incorporate cutting-edge technologies which will reduce manufacturing timelines, automate manual processes, improve stock control and product traceability, and reduce overall manufacturing costs. “This funding ultimately ensures that dorsaVi is able to significantly reduce the cost of goods whilst maintaining the high level of quality required for its FDA cleared medical device,” reads the statement. Australian Manufacturing

Northwestern University researchers develop new biomaterial for 3D printing bones Researchers from the Northwestern University have developed a 3D printable ink that produces a synthetic bone implant that rapidly accelerates bone regeneration and growth. Image credit: www.northwestern.edu Lead researcher Ramille N. Shah said this hyperelastic “bone” material, which can be easily customised to any desirable shape, could have a massive impact in the treatment of bone defects in children. “Adults have more options when it comes to implants,” Ms Shah said. “Paediatric patients do not. If you give them a permanent implant, you have to do more surgeries in the future as they grow. They might face years of difficulty.” The new 3D printed biomaterial is a mix of hydroxyapatite (a calcium mineral found naturally in human bone) and a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer that is used in many medical applications, including sutures. Ms Shah said the hyperelastic “bone” material has shown great promise in vivo animal models thanks to its porosity at the nano, micro and macro levels. “Porosity is huge when it comes to tissue regeneration, because you want cells and blood vessels to infiltrate the scaffold,” she added. “Our 3D structure has different levels of porosity that is advantageous for its physical and biological properties.” Hydroxyapatite is known for its ability to induce bone regeneration, but it is also notoriously tricky to work with. Clinical products that use hydroxyapatite are hard and brittle, so previous researchers were forced to create structures composed mostly of polymers, which shields the activity of the bioceramic. However, this new bone biomaterial is 90% by weight hydroxyapatite and just 10% by weight polymer. Despite its structural composition, the new bone biomaterial still maintains its elasticity because of the way its structure is designed and printed. Ms Shah said the high concentration of hydroxyapatite creates an environment that induces rapid bone regeneration. “Cells can sense the hydroxyapatite and respond to its bioactivity,” she added. “When you put stem cells on our scaffolds, they turn into bone cells and start to up-regulate their expression of bone-specific genes. This is in the absence of any other osteo-inducing substances. It’s just the interaction between the cells and the material itself.” She said that other substance can also be combined into the ink. Because the 3D printing process is performed at room temperature, the research team was able to incorporate other elements, such as antibiotics, into the ink. “We can incorporate antibiotics to reduce the possibility of infection after surgery,” Ms Shah said. “We also can combine the ink with different types of growth factors, if needed, to further enhance regeneration. It’s really a multi-functional material.” The biggest advantage that the new bone biomaterial has to offer is that it will allow the end product to be customised to the patient. Using Ms Shah’s synthetic material, physicians will now be able to scan the patient’s body and 3D print a personalised product. Additionally, the biomaterial also can be easily trimmed and cut to size and shape during a procedure. “The turnaround time for an implant that’s specialized for a customer could be within 24 hours,” she said. “That could change the world of craniofacial and orthopaedic surgery, and, I hope, will improve patient outcomes.” Australian Manufacturing

Carnegie Wave Energy to design and build the world’s first renewable energy island ‘microgrid’ Australian wave energy technology developer Carnegie Wave Energy is set to design and build the first renewable energy island ‘microgrid’ in the world. Image credit: Carnegie The Garden Island Microgrid Project will produce both power and desalinated water. The microgrid will be designed in such a way that it will be able to operate either independently or in conjunction with the Western Australian electricity network, seamlessly switching between the two through a control system. The $7.5 million project will involve the construction and integration of 2 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic solar capacity and a 2MW/0.5MWh battery storage system, coupled with Carnegie’s own unique and innovative CETO6 off-shore wave energy generation technology. Carnegie’s CETO6 technology converts ocean wave energy into zero-emission electricity and directly desalinated water. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded $2.5 million to the Perth company to support the development. “It will be the first time wave energy will be integrated into a microgrid, and if successful this diverse technology system could set a great new exportable opportunity for Australia to island nations around the globe,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht. “With limited land available, wave energy generation supported by a reliable microgrid of battery storage and solar PV could be a better, cheaper and more sustainable way to power remote coastal or island communities long-term, displacing their reliance on diesel fuel.” The Garden Island Microgrid Project is expected to be fully operational by mid-2017. “The Garden Island Microgrid Project will be the first time anywhere in the world that wave energy will be combined with solar and batteries in a microgrid configuration. The demonstration of this microgrid project will help drive the commercialisation of CETO and will be a model we will roll out to island nations around the world. We look forward to completing the outstanding elements of the Project including final approvals, construction award and power offtake in order to commence the Project, as soon as possible,” said Carnegie’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Ottaviano. Australian Manufacturing

MMG Limited sells Avebury nickel mine to Dundas Mining MMG Limited has agreed to sell its mothballed Avebury nickel mine to the privately owned exploration and mining development company Dundas Mining for A$25 million, subject to a number of conditions precedent including MMG Board approval. Image credit: www.mmg.com According to MMG, the Tasmania based miner will pay A$1.5 million on signing the agreement and further A$23.5 million on completion. In 2014, MMG struck a A$40 million sale agreement with QCG Resources (QCG), but the deal fell through. MMG is hopeful that this time the agreement will stick, with the company’s General Manager Rick Watsford labelling Dundas’ offer as representing “the best outcome for both MMG and the Avebury asset”. “Dundas Mining is committed to a restart of the mine and MMG is confident that the sale will reinvigorate the Zeehan area, by providing new jobs and economic benefit to the region,” Mr Watsford said. The announcement was also welcomed by Minister for Resources Guy Barnett, who described the transaction as a sign of growing confidence in Tasmania’s resource sector. “The Hodgman Liberal Government is the strongest and most consistent supporter of the mining industry, and we are committed to helping to seize new opportunities to create jobs – our number one priority,” the Minister said. “While the agreement announced by MMG today is a major step forward, we know there is a long way to go before the Avebury mine can resume operations. I commend MMG for its investment in keeping the mine on care and maintenance while working to attract a new buyer.” The Avebury mine, which is capable of producing around 7 000 t/y of nickel concentrate, has been on care and maintenance since 2009. Australian Manufacturing

dorsaVi Limited to establish new manufacturing facility in Melbourne After receiving a $350,000 grant from the Andrews Labor Government, wearable medical device company dorsaVi Limited will establish a new manufacturing facility in East Melbourne. Image credit: dorsavi.com The company will also purchase and install new equipment, create new jobs, transition existing staff and increase its exports by over $2 million. dorsaVi makes wearable sensors, software and sophisticated algorithms that objectively measure movement and muscle activation at 200 frames per second. The funding was provided as part of the Labor Government’s Future Industries Manufacturing Program. “The Andrews Labor Government is supporting businesses – both large and small – to invest in new technologies and processes that will transition Victoria towards an advanced manufacturing economy,” said Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan. “Our Future Industries Manufacturing Program is giving local businesses like dorsaVi the support they need to create new jobs and grow the economy,” added Parliamentary Secretary for Medical Research Frank McGuire. Australian Manufacturing

Ecoult commercialises CSIRO developed UltraBattery In its system called UltraFlex, Sydney-based company Ecoult has been commercialising a new lead acid battery that was developed by a consortium with the CSIRO. UltraBattery technology Image credit: Ecoult (http://ift.tt/2dsj1qV) The UltraBattery is a hybrid, long-life lead-acid energy storage device containing both an ultracapacitor and a lead-acid battery in a common electrolyte. The Australian invention was built by Furukawa Battery Company in Japan and tested in the United Kingdom through American based Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Consortium. Now, Ecoult, which has powered its products with the UltraBattery, has been selected by German specialist in renewable systems and power converter manufacturer, Freqcon, to provide battery storage for its Tallaght Smart Grid Testbed, which is operated by MEGA, the Irish Micro Electricity Generation Association. “The market for grid-tied energy storage systems is growing, and fast frequency response is a valuable system service to the grid. Ecoult`s hybrid lead-acid UltraBattery is a very promising technology in this space and we are excited to partner with Ecoult and deploy the first unit in Europe,“ said Norbert Hennchen, CEO of Freqcon. Ecoult pioneered its hybrid lead-acid UltraBattery as a leading technology for fast-cycling, high-rate, partial state of charge functions in the US. “The UltraBattery is a hybrid technology,” Ecoult CEO John Wood explained. “It contains both battery chemistry and ultracapacitor technology built into each cell. This Australian invention has the safety, sustainability and dependability of lead-acid, and has been shown to outperform other battery chemistries in similar applications. Since the technology is built on a proven and safe lead-acid platform, UltraBattery cells are recyclable and we’re delighted that Freqcon has chosen to partner with our technology and storage system.” Australian Manufacturing

Apple commits to 100% to run off 100% renewable energy, joins RE100 global renewable energy initiative Apple has joined the global renewable energy initiative RE100 – a collaborative, global initiative of influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity, working to massively increase demand for – and delivery of – renewable energy. “Apple’s dedication to clean and renewable energy extends to suppliers around the world.”Image credit: Apple The company has reaffirmed its commitment of reaching 100% renewable energy worldwide and has pledged to collaborate with the initiative to drive clean energy into the manufacturing supply chain. “Apple is committed to running on 100 percent renewable energy, and we’re happy to stand beside other companies that are working toward the same effort,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president for Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, during remarks at Climate Week in New York City. “We’re excited to share the industry-leading work we’ve been doing to drive renewable energy into the manufacturing supply chain, and look forward to partnering with RE100 to advocate for clean-energy policies around the world.” Apple said that it currently runs its operations with 93 percent renewable energy, including 100 percent of operations in the US, China and 21 other countries. According to the company’s official announcement, Catcher Technology, one of its largest aluminium enclosure suppliers, is also targeting 100 percent renewable power for its production of Apple goods by the end of 2018, leading to an emission reduction of nearly 600,000 metric tons a year. RE100 was launched at Climate Week NYC 2014. General Motors, Bank of America, Amalgamated Bank, Wells Fargo & Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), VF Corporation, VMware Inc., Rackspace Inc., Diageo and DNB are just some of the big names that have joined the initiative more recently. Australian Manufacturing

Capilano has produced the world’s first clinically-tested prebiotic honey Australia’s largest honey company Capilano has produced the world’s first clinically-tested prebiotic honey. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2cARx5y Beeotic is 100% natural prebiotic honey that provides a natural source of prebiotics – natural, non-digestible fibres that pass undigested through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and stimulate the growth or activity of advantageous bacteria that colonise the large bowel by acting as substrate for them. Beeotic will be sold in Australian supermarkets and pharmacies, with the company also targeting the Chinese market. The product was launched in Richlands by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk who stated that she was delighted to see a local company competing on the world stage. “Capilano’s timing in targeting the Asian market is perfect, this economy is growing at a phenomenal rate and by the year 2030, it’s predicted Asia will account for two-thirds of the world’s middle class,” the Premier said. “Chinese consumers love natural products and already embrace the health benefits of honey, so Beeotic has great potential to be a great boost for Queensland exports. Capilano’s work in R & D to develop a prebiotic honey is exactly the kind of innovation and value-adding that we are fostering through Advance Queensland.” Advance Queensland is a $405 million whole-of-government innovation agenda that is supporting businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers to commercialise their ideas. “Queensland has long been at the forefront of new thinking and ideas. Advance Queensland is about providing the right economic environment and support to help Queenslanders in all industries take their great ideas and turn them into commercial outcomes with global market potential – something Capilano is doing with their Beeotic product,” said Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch. According to Capilano, Beeotic is shelf stable and free of additives, preservatives, artificial colours and flavours, refined sugars and gluten. Capilano’s Beeotic can be found in the honey section at leading supermarkets and select pharmacies. Australian Manufacturing

adidas unveils first shoe made almost entirely by robots at its Speedfactory facility adidas has unveiled the adidas Futurecraft M.F.G. (Made for Germany) shoe – the first product created at its industry-changing SPEEDFACTORY facility in Ansbach, Germany. Image credit: adidas (http://ift.tt/2cARvuk) The Futurecraft M.F.G. shoe features innovative technology and has been designed to provide the ultimate fit. This is the first high performance footwear to come out of the adidas SPEEDFACTORY and will be part of adidas Running. Adidas’ first SPEEDFACTORY in Germany will allow the company to manufacture products in increasingly high volumes with advanced complexity in colour, materials and sizes. Last month, the company announced that it plans to open a new, state of the art footwear production site in Atlanta next year that will create around 160 new jobs. “The launch of the adidas Futurecraft M.F.G. is a defining moment for the industry. With SPEEDFACTORY, we have an industry-changing innovation that can be placed anywhere in the world – taking the lab to the street. It gives us the opportunity to combine unique manufacturing speed with the flexibility to rethink conventional processes. The starting point on this journey is the adidas Futurecraft M.F.G. and our ambition is we will give consumers what they want, when they want it,” said James Carnes, Vice President of Strategy Creation at adidas. “From a design perspective, SPEEDFACTORY presents us with the opportunity to explore new ways of creating the perfect shoe. The facility allows us to use data and analytics to shape the future of performance product – we can create a shoe using real-life insight, which can then provide real benefits to the athlete. The adidas Futurecraft M.F.G. is the start of an exciting journey,” added Ben Herath, Vice President of Design at adidas. Australian Manufacturing

Aussie Oventus to launch its 3D printed titanium mandibular (jaw) advancement device in the US (VIDEO) Australian medical device company, Oventus Medical Ltd. has announced that it will launch its first product in the USA after being granted clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the O2Vent™ T device, an oral appliance intended to reduce or alleviate snoring, mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and sever sleep apnoea. Image credit: http://oventus.com.au/ The 3D printed titanium mandibular (jaw) advancement device has an airway that directs air to the back of the throat and bypasses nasal, soft palate obstructions and tongue obstructions, thus aiding the treatment of snoring and OSA. The O2Vent™ T was created by Brisbane dentist Dr Chris Hart, who founded Oventus and is the company’s Clinical Director. “The O2Vent™ T is the Company’s first product to be launched into the USA. Its FDA clearance is consequently an important milestone for us as we strive to bring our innovative product portfolio to the global market to benefit those that suffer from OSA or snore excessively,” said Oventus Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Neil Anderson, in a media release. “The recent clinical data strongly supports its superior performance and clearly demonstrates its effectiveness in treating a range of sleep disorders. It also improves oxygen levels for patients. It means a greater number of patients who are CPAP intolerant or mild to moderate sufferers of sleep apnoea now have an alternative treatment option available,” Dr Hart added. Check out the video below to see how this 3D printed device works. Australian Manufacturing

New investment a boost for WA’s forestry industry The Liberal National Government has announced a $21 million investment to expand softwood plantations in Western Australia. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2cFRKmn The WA softwood plantation sector is pivotal to the $1.06 billion per year forest products industry, which directly employs over 5000 people. WA’s softwood industry supplies up to 70% of the State’s construction roofing timber. According to the official announcement, the new strategy is focused on six key areas, “with actions including a renewed focus on attaining higher levels of certification, development of new training and employment pathways, improving community engagement and increasing efforts to protect plantations from fire.” The Softwood Industry Strategy was officially launched by Forestry Minister Mia Davies last week. “The strategy will double the annual investment in planting on State Government and private land around manufacturing and processing hubs in regional WA, which will strengthen industry development and improve productivity,” said Minister Davies. “Up to 10,000 hectares of softwood will be planted by the Forest Products Commission to expand our softwood estate over the next five years, the equivalent of two trees for every one harvested, or 2.7 million pine seedlings annually.” The Minister added that the strategy will also establish a $100,000 innovation fund to stimulate market opportunities. Australian Manufacturing

SAI Global accepts 1bn takeover offer from Hong Kong’s Baring Australian risk compliance services company SAI Global has accepted a $1 billion takeover from Hong Kong-based Baring Asia Private Equity. Image credit: SAI Global Facebook page SAI directors have unanimously backed Baring’s A$4.75 per share all-cash offer, which is a 32.3 per cent premium to SAI’s closing price of $3.59 on September 23. “Baring Asia’s proposal is compelling and represents a significant premium to SAI’s share price,” said SAI’s Chairman, Andrew Dutton. “The 100% cash consideration provides SAI shareholders with certainty of value and the opportunity to realise their investment in full for cash. We expect that, if implemented, the Scheme will have a limited impact on SAI’s continuing operations and represents an exciting opportunity for the organisation.” Jean Eric Salata, Founding Partner and CEO of Baring Private Equity Asia, said the company was looking forward to partnering with SAI’s management team to grow the company into a recognised leader in risk management solutions. “Already the established leader in Australia, we see a great opportunity to leverage our footprint and expertise within the industry to further enhance SAI’s client portfolio and expand its market presence globally,” Mr Salata added. The Scheme remains subject to certain terms and conditions, including SAI shareholder approval and court approval. Australian Manufacturing

Former LNP Minister Ian Macfarlane joins Queensland Resources Council The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has welcomed the appointment of Ian Macfarlane as the Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, effective mid-November. Image credit: MCA Facebook page “Ian combines a prodigious knowledge of the resources sector, keen policy instincts and great advocacy skills. He has the respect of the resources sector as well as all sides of the political spectrum,” the Minerals Council of Australia said in a press release. “Ian’s record in the Resources and Energy portfolio (in both government and opposition) was a remarkable one, built on a singular focus on the goal of delivering better living standards for all Australians. He will be a great asset to the resources sector, not only in Queensland but nationally as well.” Australian Manufacturing

New research that shows consumers want “Australian Made” gets a thumbs up from Australian Made Campaign The latest research from Colmar Brunton, an international market research agency, has revealed that “Australian made” has made a jump to the third most looked for statement on product labels. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1eX4FcM The Australian Made Campaign has welcomed these results, with AMCL Chief Executive, Ian Harrison stating that the report’s findings prove that Australian consumers want to buy genuine Aussie produce. “The finding that an ‘Australian made’ claim ranks second behind price factors in the information shoppers are looking for clearly establishes that shoppers want to know where their food is coming from and where their products are made. Primarily they want to buy Australian made and Australian grown,” Mr Harrison said in a media release. “The Australian Made, Australian Grown logo provides that immediate connection and gives Australian consumers confidence and trust that what they are buying is in fact from Australia.” With the recent changes to country of origin food labelling in Australia, the Australian Made, Australian Grown kangaroo logo is featured on food products along with a bar chart and statement showing what proportion of ingredients come from Australia. “Shoppers buying local products and produce will continue to enjoy great quality while giving opportunities to Australian manufacturers and farmers,” Mr Harrison said. Australian Manufacturing

Smart fabrics are becoming reality thanks to 3D printing Smart functional fabrics without limitations resulting from motion, folding and wearing are becoming reality thanks to Nano Dimension’s unique AgCite™ Silver Nanoparticle conductive ink and the DragonFly 2020 3D Printer platform. Image credit: Nano Dimension website (http://ift.tt/2cNS3ta) Nano Dimension is a leader in the field of 3D Printed Electronics; the company’s most recent test for 3D printing of conductive traces onto a treated fabric was a great success and has proven that its technology can successfully print conductors on a fabric. The test was conducted in collaboration with a leading European functional textiles company. Image credit: Nano Dimension website (http://ift.tt/2cNS3ta) “Based on the requirements of the European company, Nano Dimension adjusted the printing process in order to print electronics and sensors as an integral part of the fabric,” the company said in a media release. “During the test, conductors were printed in several patterns in order to perform functionality tests, including conductivity, elasticity, rubbing, etc. The results demonstrated that the printed silver conductors had high enough elasticity to match the properties of the fabric.” Smart textiles are predicted to have useful applications in a myriad of industries. Possible uses of smart functional fabrics include smart bandages, virtual reality gloves, wearables with sensor and heat properties, safety equipment for the defence industry, unique sportswear that manages body temperature, medical equipment, automotive, aviation and aerospace accessories, and more. The smart textile market is expected to reach $4.72 billion by 2020. Australian Manufacturing

FH Management wins state government grant to revamp manufacturing facility Tasmania’s Minister for Resources Guy Barnett announced the recipients of grant funding under the latest round of the Regional Revival Fund. Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net User: renjith krishnan Mr Barnet said eight new projects will share $5 million in funding to deliver a total of $16.8 million in direct investment through the Fund’s partnership model which requires joint funding from project proponents or other partners. “The Hodgman Liberal Government is delivering funding for eight new projects which will help revitalise regional economies and create jobs,” Mr Barnett said, adding that the projects will create around 95 direct jobs during the investment phase as well as an estimated 170 ongoing positions. Westbury’s FH Management is one of the eight successful recipients of the funding which the company will use to fund a $628,000 expansion and enhancement of their existing manufacturing facility which produces environmentally sustainable insulated panels for floor and roof construction. “The panels are an innovative and unique building product utilising Tasmanian planation timber resources,” The Minister pointed out. “The project will enable FH Management to meet current and expected building industry demand for what is a home grown product, creating eight jobs during construction and nine ongoing permanent jobs.” The Regional Revival Fund was established to unlock the development potential of major private sector projects that are currently sitting idle or have been shelved due to cost constraints. The Fund requires recipients to commence development within 12 months of finalising the necessary contractual arrangements. “The latest Regional Revival Fund projects build on our previous commitment to supporting regional economies with a total of $2.8 million going to construction of the Southern Waste Solutions C-cell controlled waste facility in Copping and the upgrade of JBS Australia‘s Devonport Abattoir,” Mr Barnett said. “We know more needs to be done to create jobs and drive growth and opportunities for Tasmanians and that is what the Regional Revival Fund is all about.” Australian Manufacturing

AIMS and Boeing Australia pool resources to protect the Great Barrier Reef The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and Boeing Australia have inked a five year partnership agreement to develop technologically innovative and commercially attractive solutions for collecting environmental data on the Great Barrier Reef. Image credit: www.aims.gov.au The joint effort will see AIMS and Boeing Australia combine the capabilities of satellites, unmanned airborne systems, and autonomous surface and underwater vehicles to create sophisticated systems that will assist in the collection of marine data in a way that is safe, quick, and affordable. Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt, said the development of technologies that will track and assess changes in the Great Barrier Reef was paramount to protecting the health of the Reef. “The recent bleaching event highlighted both the importance of ongoing monitoring and the challenges involved in doing so – with the Great Barrier Reef as large in size as Italy,” Mr Hunt said. “Technology development is recognised as one of the critical ingredients required to enable Australia to better monitor our tropical oceans and marine environment.” He said the partnership was expected to deliver systems that will provide a big step forward in improving the quantity, quality and timeliness of environmental data. “We hope to be able to increase our understanding, and refine our solutions, to monitoring, managing and improving the health of our unique and iconic Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Hunt continued. “Australians are passionate about the Great Barrier Reef and the Turnbull Government is committed to protecting it for future generations.” AIMS CEO John Gunns said the Boeing-AIMS research will support Australia’s Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program and will be fully coordinated with the Commonwealth and Queensland governments’ efforts to monitor and protect the Great Barrier Reef. “With the Great Barrier Reef providing essential environmental, cultural and economic benefits to Australia, we need to understand how – and how quickly – the reef environment is changing,” Mr Gunn said. “Working with Boeing will provide an ideal platform from which we can paint a detailed picture of what is happening on the reef.” Australian Manufacturing

3D Systems introduces single-stage dental reconstruction technique that dramatically shortens recovery period (VIDEO) 3D Systems has expanded its Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) Reconstruction product line with the launch of Jaw in a Day, a patient specific process enabling surgeons to perform a full jaw reconstruction in a single surgery. Image credit: www.3dsystems.com This groundbreaking capability could prove to be a game changer in the field of dental reconstruction, as it could spare patients from months of costly, painful and disruptive medical treatment. “Traditional dental rehabilitation requires multiple surgeries and persistent care over a 6-12 month period. This pattern of procedures often results in patients missing teeth, which introduces a variety of adverse aesthetic, functional, and psychological effects to the patient,” 3D Systems said in a press release. “Jaw in a Day is a single surgery jaw and dental reconstruction enabled via 3D Systems’ VSP Reconstruction service. Surgeons work with 3D Systems engineers who utilise state-of the-art digital CAD/CAM technology to create a personalised surgical plan and design patient-specific surgical guides, models and instruments.” According to the company, these devices are then 3D printed and sterilised for reference and use during the unique procedure. “Immediate placement of a provisional dental prosthesis eliminates the need for multiple surgeries, resulting in a complete dental reconstruction months before traditional treatment options,” read the press release. In addition to offering a lower cost treatment with quicker recovery period, the Jaw in a Day procedure also reduces the chance of infection and complications that are more likely to occur with the multiple surgeries of traditional treatment plans. “This single-stage reconstruction technique has streamlined the treatment of my patients. It avoids multiple procedures, shaving months off the time required for full dental rehabilitation,” said David L. Hirsch, DDS, MD, Director of Oral Oncology & Reconstruction, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, and Co-Developer of Jaw in a Day. Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra posts strong increase in profit despite ongoing milk price crisis Fonterra has announced a 65% increase in net profit after tax to $834 million for the financial year ended 31 July 2016 despite ongoing challenges in global dairy markets. Image credit: fonterra.comfonterr Chairman John Wilson described the 2015/16 season as “incredibly difficult for farmers, their families and rural communities”, with global dairy prices at unsustainable levels. “Our Co-operative has responded. We continued with the significant and necessary changes we began in the business over three years ago to support our strategy and its priorities, and worked hard to return every possible cent of value back to our farmers,” he said. “Our business strategy is serving us well. We are moving more milk into higher-returning consumer and foodservice products while securing sustainable ingredients margins over the GlobalDairyTrade benchmarks, especially through speciality ingredients and service offerings.” Mr Wilson said the co-operative has managed to increase the return on capital and to strengthen in balance sheet through increased earnings and continuing financial discipline. “We have done what we can to support our farmers with the Co-operative Support Loan, and early payment of dividends,” Mr Wilson added. “After a period of deliberate and disciplined attention to the business, we have become a stronger Co-operative operationally, financially and in our mindset with a clear sense of direction and a structure which will support real momentum in our strategy going forward” Chief Executive Theo Spierings said more volumes of milk sold at higher value formed the core of Fonterra’s strategy. “For our farmers, the promise is that we will make the most of their milk. We’re keeping that promise,” he said. “We’ve seen the real strength of our ingredients business this year. The money our farmers have invested in stainless steel is giving us more choice, and we have matched production to the highest value customer demand. In a difficult market, we increased ingredients normalised EBIT this year by 24 per cent to $1,204 million.” He said the consumer and foodservice businesses converted an additional 380 million litres of liquid milk equivalents (LME) into higher returning products, bringing its total volumes up from 4.5 billion LME to 4.9 billion. “Increasing our consumer and foodservice volumes, and especially our foodservice growth, meant we increased our normalised EBIT in this business by 42 per cent to $580 million,” Mr Spierings added. “Our results show that we continue to do what we said we would do right across the Co-op. We are single-minded about transforming our business to get the best results. We have cut our operating expenses, increased our free cash flow, reduced our working capital days, driven debt down, and reduced our capex and our gearing.” Commenting on the future outlook, Mr Wilson said” “Current global milk prices remain at unrealistically low levels, but as the signs in the market improve, we are very strongly positioned to build on a good result in the year to come,” he concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Swanson Industries buys Australia’s Waratah Engineering Swanson Industries has agreed to buy Australia’s Waratah Engineering, a New South Wales based specialist in remanufacturing longwall roof support systems and mobile equipment. Image credit: www.pr.com Swanson Industries President and CEO Steve Sangalli said the acquisition of Waratah, formally known as Kopex Australia, complemented the company’s 2014 Australian additions of Jarvie Engineering and Goninan Platers, both located in Newcastle, NSW. “We are very pleased to bring Waratah Engineering into the Swanson family. With Waratah’s suite of capital equipment and its experience in remanufacturing longwall roof support systems and mobile equipment, the partnership fulfills another step in our strategy to be a full service supplier to the Australian mining markets,” Mr Sangalli added. He said the transaction, which was officially concluded on 5 September, further strengthened Swanson’s capability to service its international customers. “The combination of industry expertise is such a natural fit that the sharing of resources, practices and knowledge is assured to improve our combined ability to provide Swanson’s international customers with a fully-capable alternative to the traditional OEM suppliers,” Mr Sangalli concluded. Swanson Industries is headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia. The company is a leading provider of hydraulic cylinder manufacturing, remanufacturing, and repair services for the Mobile, Mining, and Industrial marketplace, operating manufacturing, plating, repair and distribution centres through Australia, Chile and the United States. Australian Manufacturing

Queensland manufacturers keen to pursue new opportunities in the sector, according Treasurer Pitt The Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Queensland’s manufacturing sector has been welcomed by manufacturers across the state, said Acting Premier and Treasurer Curtis Pitt. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj User: ponsulak Inspecting window manufacturer Breezway’s commercial workshop on Wednesday, Mr Pitt said the manufacturing inquiry will investigate existing and emerging opportunities in the sector. “The inquiry is expected to examine opportunities in high-value advanced manufacturing sectors including health, mining, transport and the environment,” he said. “It will also look at ways to build on Queensland’s traditional manufacturing base, including our agricultural and resources sectors and specifically investigate if and how the government can assist in bringing good, well-paying manufacturing jobs back to Queensland. Ai Group State Director Jemina Dunn also commended the Palaszczuk Government for its “foresight vision” in establishing the Queensland Productivity Commission inquiry. “The Government has stated its firm focus on job creation in Queensland and the decision by the Treasurer is potentially a game changer for manufacturing jobs in Queensland, further confirming that when it comes to further diversifying the economy this Government means business,” Ms Dunn said. “Ai Group has long advocated the importance of manufacturing to Queensland’s future prosperity and Queensland manufacturers have greatly valued this Government’s focus on the sector.” She said the Ai Group particularly welcomed the Treasurer’s request that the Commission focus on advanced manufacturing as well as on areas of traditional strength in manufacturing in Queensland. “In reality these two dimensions overlap with many businesses in traditional manufacturing industries clearly qualifying as ‘advanced manufacturers’, indeed at Ai Group we have the strong view that all manufacturers can become ‘advanced manufacturers’,” Ms Dunn added. Australian Manufacturing

Romar Engineering & CSIRO boost 3D printing capabilities for medical and aerospace sectors Australian toolmaking and rapid prototyping company Romar Engineering has joined forces with CSIRO to produce new advanced manufacturing products for the medical and aerospace sectors. Image credit: www.romareng.com.au The Sydney-based manufacturer and Australia’s premier research organisation have co-invested in a new $1.25 million 3D printer to conduct industry leading research in the manufacture of medical devices, tritium body implants and components for engines and machines. Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Craig Laundy, who opened the Lastertec 3D printing machine at Romar’s workshops in Sefton, NSW on Tuesday, said both the company and CSIRO stand to benefit from the latest investment in additive manufacturing capability. “By showing initiative and working with organisations like CSIRO and the government’s growth centres, Romar has adapted to market changes and now provides precision manufactured components to the medical, aerospace, aeronautical and other industries,” the Assistant Minister said. Image credit: www.csiro.au “CSIRO are committed to collaboration with business as part of their Australia’s Innovation Catalyst Strategy 2020, and to delivering scientific and engineering innovation to transition Australian manufacturing.” Australia’s manufacturing sector employs about 900,000 people and accounts for over a quarter of business expenditure on research and development. According to Mr Laundy, the long-term success of the sector lies in providing value-added products and services, both locally and globally. “The government is supporting the transition by encouraging collaboration and the commercialisation of research through initiatives such as the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre,” he concluded. Australian Manufacturing

GM to go 100% green by 2050 Global automaker General Motors (GM) has pledged to power all of its 350 operations across 59 counties with a 100% renewable energy by 2050. Image credit: www.gm.com This ambitious goal, coupled with the company’s pursuit of electrified vehicles and efficient manufacturing, forms an important part of GM’s threefold strategy to strengthen its business, improve communities and combat climate change. “Establishing a 100 percent renewable energy goal helps us better serve society by reducing environmental impact,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “This pursuit of renewable energy benefits our customers and communities through cleaner air while strengthening our business through lower and more stable energy costs.” GM’s vast industrial apparatus consumes huge amounts of energy to operate at peak capacity. Last year, the company required 9 terawatt hours of electricity to power its operations around the world. To lower its environmental footprint and cut energy costs, GM has invested in a number of renewable energy initiatives over the years that save it approximately $5 million each year. Amy Davidsen, North America executive director at The Climate Group, described GE’s new renewable energy commitment as a “bold and ambitious” move that was certain to catch the attention of carmakers worldwide. “GM has already saved millions of dollars by using renewable energy, and like any smart business that recognises an investment opportunity, they want to seize it fully,” she added. “We hope that through this leadership, other heavy manufacturing companies will be inspired to make the switch too.” GM has pioneered the use of renewable energy for more than 20 years, saving tens of millions of dollars in the process. The company anticipates that savings will increase as more of its renewable energy projects come online and as costs to produce clean energy continue to decrease. GM is waiting for two new wind projects to come online later this year and is also in the process of adding 30 megawatts of solar arrays at two facilities in China. It has a total of 22 facilities with solar arrays, three sites using landfill gas and four that will soon benefit from wind. Moreover, GM’s electric vehicle battery expertise places it in a unique position to meet the 100% renewable energy target by 2050. “Energy storage can ultimately address the intermittency or reliability of wind and solar energy,” the company said in a statement. “GM is now using Chevrolet Volt batteries for energy storage at its Milford Proving Ground data centre office.” GM is a member of RE100, a global collaborative initiative of businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. Australian Manufacturing

New manufacturing inquiry to unlock untapped potential for QLD’s agri-food sector Acting Premier and Treasurer Curtis has asked the Queensland Productivity Commission to conduct an inquiry that will give Central Queensland’s agricultural sector a say on the potential for expanding the state’s food production and processing sector while creating new jobs. Image courtesy of [Marcus-] / FreeDigitalPhotos.netAccording to the Treasurer, the inquiry will also examine opportunities in high-value advanced manufacturing sectors including health, mining, transport and the environment. “As Treasurer I have announced an inquiry into the state’s manufacturing sector by the Queensland Productivity Commission. The inquiry will look at ways to build on Queensland’s traditional manufacturing base, including our agricultural sector,” Mr Pitt said. “The inquiry is expected to be completed by August next year. It will focus on opportunities to maximise advantages, address weaknesses and take advantage of emerging domestic and international opportunities, including a focus on employment and exports.” He said the move reflected the Government’s long-term policy approach for the economic development of Queensland in the years to come. “There is a lot of talk about the ‘new economy’ and I know that some workers have concerns about what that means for the so called ‘old economy’. Right now they might think the world is moving on without them. But to them I say that the Palaszczuk Government understands their concerns,” the Treasurer added. “That is why we are focussing our efforts to create new jobs on our traditional industry sectors, not just those sectors that have emerged from the digital age.” Mr Pitt said the inquiry might help identify untapped opportunities that exist in agriculture and food production, two of the state’s strongest traditional sectors. According to him, food manufacturing was one sector where new opportunities were likely to open up to meet the rising demands from the growing middle classes in Asian markets. “As a nation and as a state we are well positioned to take advantage of demands for new products,” Mr Pitt continued. “Asian customers already have a taste for our unique, clean, and safe food products including beef and other products from Central Queensland producers. The rising middle classes in Asia are looking for products that are different to ones they can obtain in their own countries but which are also reliable and affordable.” He said the inquiry might inspire bright ideas for new products or processes in food manufacturing that have not been considered yet, but which may meet with strong demand from Asian and other export markets. “The Productivity Commission’s inquiry will help identify possibilities for tapping ideas that could lead to new food-manufacturing products and industries with new jobs based on new export and domestic markets,” the Treasurer concluded. Manufacturing has contributed $20.3 billion to the Queensland economy in 2014–15 and accounted for $15.9 billion in international exports. The sector directly employed around 170,000 people in the state in the December quarter 2015. Australian Manufacturing

Rio Tinto & GE forge five-year partnership to enhance Pilbara rail operations Rio Tinto has handed global industrial leader General Electric (GE) a five-year contract to provide maintenance services and support for its vast locomotive network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Image courtesy of http://www.riotinto.com. Photographer: Christian Sprogoe Photography The agreement will see GE apply its expertise in locomotive service to enable more rapid access to material and parts, reducing downtime and enhancing fleet reliability. Commenting on the agreement, GE’s Commercial Leader for Transportation in Asia Pacific, Dwight Van Roy, said the partnership was a “unique industry collaboration” that would bring shared best practice with the spread of enterprise risk. “Working inside Rio Tinto’s maintenance workshops in Karratha and Cape Lambert, we’ll have direct line-of-sight to daily operations, and be able to respond right away to issues and advise in areas we can optimise,” Mr Van Roy said. “As a long time manufacturer and operator of high-performance locomotives, GE is able to combine extensive product knowledge with supply chain management experience to add value to Rio Tinto’s operations.” Image credit: GE Facebook page Rio Tinto’s Rail Maintenance general manager, Jen Mackenzie, said the agreement strengthened the fruitful relationship that the two companies built over the years. “This partnership was able to happen because of the strong levels of trust that has been built between GE and Rio Tinto throughout our years of working together,” Mr Mackenzie said. “As we move into a new era for commodities, this type of business model will allow us both to focus on areas where we can deliver the most value.” Australian Manufacturing

Australia’s first commercial EV fast-charging station deployed in Queensland Energy retailer Locality Planning Energy (LPE) has announced the deployment of the first super-fast, commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Australia. Image credit: tritium.com.au According to the company, it is one of five stations with fast charge capabilities to be deployed across Southeast Queensland, allowing drivers to charge EVs 25 times faster than standard chargers. The 50 KW DC fast charger, which is capable of adding 50km range to an EV battery charge in just 10 minutes, was developed and manufactured by Brisbane-based Tritium. Utilising LPE’s embedded energy networks, the charging station will also be the first commercial station in the country to provide electricity to an EV at a rate cheaper on a km-to-km basis than for a combustion engine. In addition, drivers will be able to check the charging station’s availability, reserve a charging space and monitor their car’s charging process through the use of a dedicated mobile app. LPE’s Director and CEO, Mr Damien Glanville said drivers will pay for the exact amount of electricity used to recharge their vehicles, making it just as cost effective as home charging. “The charging station marks an exciting development fir electric vehicle owners and we are thrilled to combine the power of Tritium’s cutting-edge and award winning technology with our embedded electricity network to make charging faster, easier and more cost effective than ever before,” he added. Mr Glanville said the charging station was installed at the Noosa Blue Resort in Noosa Heads, Queensland, which was the first of five sites earmarked for EV charging station deployment in Southeast Queensland. “With advanced infrastructure that makes EV charging more convenient and accessible, we hope to accelerate the adoption of EVs across Australia and enable greater flexibility for drivers,” he said. “EV trips between Noosa and Brisbane are now possible and trips to further destinations will soon be a reality.” Tritium Commercial Director, Mr Paul Sernia said facilitating an advanced charging infrastructure was key to accelerating the adoption of EVs, both domestically and overseas. “We have seen growing demand for EVs around the world and as the only Australian company to design and manufacture EV charging stations locally, we look forward to demonstrating how the technology can enable more sustainable and cost effective transport,” Mr Sernia stated. Australian Manufacturing

QUT and ‘Hear and Say’ charity team up to develop next-gen 3D printed prosthetic ears (VIDEO) The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has teamed up with Hear and Say, a Queensland charity for deaf children, to launch the FutureHear crowdfunding campaign for the development of next-generation 3D printed prosthetic ears. Image credit: QUT YouTube channel Associate Professor Mia Woodruff, from QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, said the campaign would support world-first medical research into the development of 3D printed prosthetic ears for children with microtia, a congenital deformity where the external ear is underdeveloped. “No one in the world is researching 3D printing of life-like materials to create external ears. Crowdfunding is common nowadays for start-ups and arts projects but it is not the usual route to gaining financial support for biomedical research,” Professor Woodruff remarked. “We thought this research is new – we need funds for the next phase – let’s try a different way and ask the public to help us quickly raise money for this project that will produce tangible benefits for thousands of children. The best part is the public get to share our journey online and see a science project in action.” She said their goal was to raise $200,000 over 48 days to fund vital development of 3D printing technology for multi-material, flexible, lifelike prosthetic ears customised for each child with microtia. “Children with microtia often have one unaffected ear and we are developing a simple, non-invasive, child-friendly technology that will enable us to scan the ear with a mobile phone and produce a 3D computer model,” Ms Woodruff added. “We need funding to take the research groundwork we have already achieved to a complete product that we can produce in-house at Hear and Say.” According to Professor Woodruff, the research also aims to produce technology that would allow 3D printed ears to cost as little as a pair of glasses. “Till now, parents have had to have hand-sculpted prosthetic ears made at a high cost that are replaced every three to five years,” she noted. Dr Dimity Dornan AO, Hear and Say’s Founder and Executive Director, said the research aligned with the objectives of the FutureHear project, which was to develop a living ear with in-built hearing assistance technology. “The next step for Professor Woodruff and her team is to produce a surgically implanted 3D printed ear scaffold containing the child’s own cells that will gradually dissolve and leave only new tissue,” Dr Dornan said. “The real winners in this project is the children affected by microtia and their families who are seeking a cost effective and more accessible solution.” To make a donation, please go to: http://ift.tt/2d985Tk. Australian Manufacturing

CSIRO to invest $52m per year on six areas of innovation by 2020 CSIRO will invest $52 million per year over the next four yeas into six new areas of “breakthrough science” in an effort to become the world’s premier public research organisation over the coming decade. Image credit: www.csiro.au This ambitious goal, which was announced by Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Mr Greg Hunt, at CSIRO’s Gala Dinner in Melbourne on Tuesday, will see the organisation invest in six new Future Science Platforms (FSPs) including: probing biosystems; digiscape; synthetic biology; environomics; deep earth imaging and advanced integrated materials. “This is an ambitious goal – but it is achievable,” the Minister remarked. “I was delighted to announce that the Turnbull Government is committed to working with CSIRO to build the nation’s strength in science and provide greater opportunities for all Australians.” CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Larry Marshall, said the six abovementioned areas of innovation had the potential to support the reinvention and creation of new industries and new jobs for Australia. “Exactly as planned in Strategy 2020, we’ve freed up resources to enable this initial $17 million investment in 2016/17 to launch the FSPs, growing to over $50 million per year by 2020,” Dr Marshall said. “We’re seriously excited about CSIRO’s next chapter and how we’re investing in Australia’s science future. The platforms fuel deeper collaboration across disciplines as we tackle things that haven’t been done before, which is exactly what we need to stay ahead of accelerating global disruption of all kinds from economic to environmental.” He said the FSPs would not only accelerate research and delivery of solutions, but would also help develop “the next crop of researchers”. “FSPs will attract a new generation of researchers to work collaboratively on genuinely challenging science and help invent Australia’s future,” Dr Marshall added. “The platforms empower CSIRO’s strategy of solving Australia’s toughest challenges, and getting science off the lab bench and into people’s hands as quickly as possible to improve Australia’s sustainability and prosperity.” Below are the six Future Science Platforms, as chosen by CSIRO researchers and staff: Environomics Unlocking genetic and other knowledge from the country’s vast species biodiversity in order to preserve and manage ecosystems under environmental change, better manage economically useful species, detect biosecurity threats and create new products based on previously unknown biological data. Synthetic Biology The design, fabrication, and construction of new biological parts, devices, systems, and machines, as well as the re-design of existing biological systems, to enable revolutionary advances in cellular factories, designer organisms and biological devices. Deep Earth Imaging The science of Deep Earth Imaging will help discover the previously undiscovered minerals, energy and water resources lying deep under the earth or sea. Digiscape Helping agricultural industries to be more productive and providing more valuable knowledge to environmental policy makers through a new generation of decision tools that use sensors, data visualisation and artificial intelligence to generate timely and relevant advice for more productive and sustainable outcomes. Probing Biosystems A revolution in healthcare and agriculture through devices and systems to obtain real-time information from living organisms about their health and well-being. Active Integrated Matter Reinventing fields as diverse as manufacturing, agriculture, emergency services, infrastructure and mining through combining advanced materials, robotics, sensing technologies, data processing and autonomous capabilities. New forms of autonomous robots will operate safely in dangerous environments while smart materials will enable new types of customised and personalised products and services. Australian Manufacturing

TOMCAR to debut new electrical all-terrain vehicle for mining industry at MINExpo 2016 Off road utility vehicles manufacturer TOMCAR will be exhibiting its range of all-terrain vehicles specialised for the mining industry at MINExpo 2016, to be held on September 26-28 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Image provided In addition to showcasing its diesel unit, the company will also debut its newly-released electrical vehicle, one of the only advanced, high-performance 100% electrical all-terrain vehicle offered worldwide. “Mining professionals are loving the fact that our electrical vehicle emits no diesel particulate matter, which the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has deemed dangerous to workers’ health,” said Ram Zarchi, CEO of TOMCAR. “Low maintenance costs, no emissions, and less noise make this an easy sell for anyone who wants to take their work environment to the next level of safety and performance.” Widely renowned for their durability and quality build, TOMCAR’s mining vehicles have been in service in underground mining for over 10 years. The unparalleled quality of these vehicles saw mining become TOMCAR’s second largest market sector (after military) over the past decade, prompting the company to develop customisable mining vehicles incorporating feedback from dozens of operators. TOMCAR’s mining vehicle features fully-welded high-grade steel frame which makes it ideal for operating under the extreme conditions of mining industries, while providing operators with unmatched safety. Designed to last decades with quick on-site repair, the TOMCAR is well equipped to withstand constant abuse with minimal maintenance and equipment downtime. “The TOMCAR has not disappointed,” said Johannes Sondergaard, K1 Mine Engineer at Potash Mine in Canada. “The TOMCAR has an incredibly low centre of gravity. This, in combination with the high ground clearance, independent suspension, and rollover protection has left me feeling safe and comfortable in all of the operating conditions that the mine has to offer. It has no trouble powering four adults through the hills and valleys of the mine. It is a pleasure to find a machine that I actually enjoy driving throughout the mine for a twelve-hour shift.” Australian Manufacturing

Queensland racing team set to become world’s first solar car supplier Australia’s premier solar racing team Clenergy TeamArrow is about to become the world’s first global supplier of commercial solar-powered cars that require road registration. The Arrow STF Image credit: Clenergy TeamArrow Facebook page The Queensland-based team has officially opened a new innovation, design & manufacturing hub at Macarthur Avenue, Eagle Farm, that will build a hi-tech sports vehicle for next year’s World Solar Challenge, with the team also planning to develop a commercial model based on the prototype. The Arrow STF is a two seater, solar electric racing car which uses the latest in solar and battery technology to create a unique vision of what is possible in the pursuit of clean, efficient motoring. According to the team, the vehicle will be approximately 2 to 3 times more aerodynamically efficient than a traditional car and will be fitted with power systems supplied by Tritium. The vehicle will feature a twin motor configuration and lightweight Lithium Ion battery pack that will enable it to travel about 300 ~400 kilometres at highway speeds and 1000+ kilometres at city driving speeds. “As part of our development program, TeamArrow plan to race the Arrow STF over 3000km in the 2017 World Solar Challenge and then make the car commercially available for drivers who would like to own a truly unique vehicle,” to company said on its official webpage. Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey, who attended the official launch of the workshop, said he was excited about the possibilities that the new innovation and design hub in Brisbane could bring in the future. “The Palaszczuk Government is a strong advocate for renewable energy and a cleaner, greener energy future and I’m pleased to say that Economic Development Queensland has given the home team a flying start by providing long term access to the Eagle Farm site and workshop facilities,” the Minister added. Clenergy Team Arrow’s Cameron Tuesley said the design of the prototype, which was unveiled at the launch ceremony, was inspired from their extensive experiences crossing Australia’s outback. “We aim to be the first Australian company to manufacture and sell solar electric vehicles and we are proud to be working with energy partners such as Clenergy and Tritium to showcase Australian innovation, science and renewable energy technology to the world,” Mr Tuesley said. “What better stage to launch than the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge? Our ‘race’ version of our car of the future will also be the first road-registered solar vehicle to compete in the Challenge.” Australian Manufacturing

Stratasys 3D prints customised back brace to help Latvian wheelchair fencer overcome back issue at Rio Paralympic Games 2016 Latvian wheelchair fencer, Polina Rožkova has turned to additive manufacturing giant Stratasys to 3D print a customised back brace that will help her overcome the discomfort and limited movement during fencing in her quest for gold at the Paralympics 2016 this week. Image credit: investors.stratasys.com Having tried various traditional back braces and orthopaedic specialists leading up to Rio 2016, the athlete – which ranks 8th in the Épée Women Category A world ranking – approached Stratasys’ Latvian reseller, Baltic3D, to explore whether 3D printing could offer a solution to her problem. After making a 3D scan of her lower back, the team used Stratasys’ flexible, lightweight Nylon 12 material to 3D print the one-off back brace specifically to Rožkova’s middle spine, giving her the support required to enhance performance and compete at the highest level “The conventional back brace Polina was using when she came to us was huge and did not fit her shape at all, causing her discomfort and bruises in everyday life. It was limiting her movement in fencing and hindering her performance, which is not great when you’re preparing for the Paralympics,” explained Janis Jatnieks of Baltic3D, leader of the 3D printed back brace project. “Fortunately, we were able to help! 3D printing gives us the ability to quickly and cost-effectively produce one-off solutions customized to the individual, and having access to Stratasys Nylon material was crucial to giving her the levels of comfort and freedom of movement required to compete with the very best in her field.” The back brace was 3D printed on a Stratasys Fortus 450mc production 3D Printer in one single build, and Rožkova is delighted with the outcome and confident of achieving a positive result in Rio. “Throughout my years as a professional wheelchair fencer, I have been looking for an alternative, and most importantly, sports-appropriate lower back brace to allow me to fence and move freely without any restraints or pain,” Rožkova said. “As the sport puts a lot of strain on the back, I also needed a support that could be replaced easily if it broke during training or competition. I’m ecstatic with the result – not only is the 3D printed back brace visually appealing, but it gives me a level of freedom unparalleled to anything I have ever used before. I feel better equipped than ever to achieve my goals.” Australian Manufacturing

Design Futures to explore future design possibilities for energy, mobility, money and water This week the National Gallery of Victoria holds the first of a series of four Design Futures talks about the future of design relating to essential areas of daily life: energy, mobility, money and water. Image provided Design Futures will take place over four Wednesday evenings from 21 September to 12 October 2016 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, with each session to include a keynote talk from the featured speaker, followed by a Q&A moderated by The Age columnist and chief editorialist Michael Short. “Design touches every aspect of our lives and affects the way we live in very fundamental ways, often guiding how we work, learn, spend and interact,” said Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV. “The NGV is pleased to bring together experts in their fields of to make us consider what might shape the future of energy, mobility, money and water.” Wednesday 21 September, 6 pm: ENERGY The journey from high-carbon centralised utilities to low-carbon distributed systems. Ms Samantha Coras, currently Head of Project Management Australia for the leading global solar energy company First Solar, will speculate on the disruptive design and innovation opportunities that might reshape the ways that energy is captured, stored and valued, as society transitions from high-carbon centralised utilities to low-carbon distributed systems. Wednesday 28 September, 6 pm: MOBILITY Radical ideas changing the way we move. Space craft designer and scramjet engineer Michael Smart will speculate on ways that international travel could be transformed in the years to come, forecasting hypersonic technology and a future of international and space travel. Mr Smart, who is a Professor at the University of Queensland School of Mechanical and Mining, spent 10 years at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia designing hypersonic engines called scramjets. Wednesday 5 October, 6 pm: MONEY Globalisation, digitisation – tech start-ups changing the future of money. The emergence of fin tech businesses and start-ups has radically disrupted financial services and changed the nature of money. Alex Scandurra, the CEO of Stone & Chalk, a not-for-profit fintech hub for financial services start-ups in Australia, will talk about the future of money and what financial services may look like in the future. Wednesday 12 October, 6 pm: WATER Water scarcity. A complex problem requiring transformative solutions. Rosalea Monacella, the co-director of the Office of Urban Transformation Research (OUTR) and Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at RMIT University, will elaborate on the issues surrounding water resource availability and discuss how transformative solutions could address future water security issues. OUTR is a network of architects, landscape architects and urban planners that explore design as a responsive agent to contemporary urban challenges, with an intent to generate sustainable urban futures. The network’s research combines complex urban issues and advanced digital modelling techniques as an effective tool for providing effective solutions. Australian Manufacturing

Coca-Cola Amatil launches two premium rum ranges in Australia Coca-Cola Amatil’s (CCA) Rum Co of Fiji brand has launched two award-winning premium rum ranges in Australia. Image credit: flickr user: Adika Atmaja Teknikap First launched in Fiji in 2014, the super-premium Ratu and premium Bati ranges are blended from globally awarded rums, before being filtered through coconut shell charcoal and matured in specially selected oak barrels in time-honoured tradition. CCA’s Managing Director of Alcohol & Coffee, Shane Richardson, said the company was “genuinely excited” to be bringing these award-winning rums to Australia. “Rum is Australia’s fourth largest spirit category and what’s most exciting for us is that we’re seeing consumers starting to explore the different styles and flavours rum has to offer, and appreciate its versatility. That’s a great driver for growth,” Mr Richardson said. “Already very popular in Fiji, they’re beginning to attract global interest after winning a number of big awards in London and San Francisco, both in 2015 and 2016. Outside Fiji, Australia is the first country globally to launch these brands. The reaction from trade and consumers so far has been very positive and we’re looking forward to building Fiji’s credentials when it comes to producing rum of a really phenomenal quality.” Both the Ratu and Bati brands are built on an ethos of authenticity and hard work, drawing their inspiration and their identities from their Fijian heritage. The Ratu brand was named after the Ratu chiefs, who presided over the community and led the country’s fearsome warriors known as Bati. “We believe that our Rum Co of Fiji range brings a unique proposition to the Australian rum market,” said CCA’s Senior Brand Manager Blake Kramer. “Our mission is to help consumers uncover this award-winning range of rums and showcase Fiji’s heritage, craftsmanship and quality.” The Ratu range includes a five-year-old spiced rum (awarded silver medal, world’s best spiced rum 2016), a five-year-old dark rum (world’s best dark rum 2016) and an eight-year old Signature Liqueur, which was named the world’s best rum in 2015. The Bati brand is available in spiced, dark and white. “The launch strengthens Coca-Cola Amatil’s position as one of Australia’s leading premium alcoholic beverages distributors, complementing its already extensive premium spirits portfolio, thanks to a long-term partnership with Beam Suntory, the world’s third largest spirits company,” CCA said in a statement. Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra announces Wynyard plant expansion Fonterra Australia has announced a $4.3 million investment to boost cheese and whey capacity at its Wynyard plant in Tasmania. Image credit: fonterra.com Fonterra said the investment will increase the Wynyard plant’s manufacturing output by 8,000 MT per annum and help meet the growing demand for the company’s cheese and whey from its domestic and export customers. Fonterra Australia Regional Operations Manager South Steve Taylor said the Wynyard factory formed an integral part of the company’s global multi-hub strategy. “Tasmania is an important region for Fonterra and our multi-hub strategy, and we continue to invest here for the long-term. We’re a major regional employer and we’re proud of the work we do and our involvement in the local communities,” Mr Tayor added. “The more we invest for growth the more competitive our business will be, putting us in a strong position to manage global volatility, pay the best possible price to farmers and the best possible returns to our shareholders.” He said the Wynyard plant has been operating at full capacity ever since a fire destroyed the company’s cheese plant at Stanhope in December 2014. “The Wynyard expansion will see Fonterra’s total Australian cheese production increase by 50 per cent once the Stanhope plant is commissioned in mid-2017,” Mr Taylor concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Austal USA wins new A$434m US Navy contract for two EPF vessels Austal USA, the American branch of operations for Australian shipbuilder Austal, has been awarded a A$434 million contract for the design and construction of two Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels for the US Navy. Image credit: www.austal.com Austal said the new contract extends its total build for the EPF program to twelve ships and grows the company’s extensive order book to over A$3.3 billion. “This new order for a further two EPF reflect the US Navy’s continued confidence and investment in a proven product. The EPF is a unique vessel that is re-defining naval sealift capability and exceeding expectations in various military and civilian operations around the world,” said Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton. “Two more EPF signal a commitment by the US Navy to further expand the EPF roles and reach -and represent a significant opportunity for the Austal USA workforce who have been achieving impressive production efficiencies and improved margins across the program.” Austal USA has thus far has delivered seven EPF, five of which have already been deployed by the United States Military Sealift Command (USMSC) with various US Navy fleets around the world. Three EPF are currently under construction at Austal USA’s manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, including the future USNS Yuma (EPF-8) which is scheduled for launch in coming days. The EPF is a unique, 103 metre catamaran with a 35 knot performance, a large 1800 square metre cargo deck, medium-lift helicopter deck and seating for over 300 embarked troops. The ship has the unique ability to support a variety of operations, including military and civilian logistics missions, humanitarian and disaster relief missions and other maritime law enforcement activities. Australian Manufacturing

Australian Made encourages Aussie companies to promote their heritage on Family Business Day 2016 The Australian Made Campaign is urging businesses across the country to promote their heritage on Family Business Day which is held annually on 19 September. Image credit: http://ift.tt/29fs8y2 Family Business Australia is the peak body committed to contributing to Australia’s future through a dynamic and sustainable family business community. The organisation aims to provide access to specialist family, business and technical services and generate opportunities for families in business to learn and grow by networking and sharing with their peers. “Family Business Day is an opportunity for all family and non-family members of the family business, as well as stakeholders and local governments to come together and recognise this important sector,” the Australian Made Campaign said in a press release. The Campaign pointed out that more than two thirds of all Australian businesses are family businesses that make and grow the products they sell in the country, keeping local farms and manufacturing plants in business and local people in jobs. “Many of the country’s largest and most loved companies started off as a family business including Australian Made licensees Coopers Brewery, Willow, AH Beard, Ugg Australia and Akubra Hats,” reads the press release. “Family farmers and manufacturers are encouraged to use the hashtags #madebyourfamily and #grownbyourfamily to help promote their products on social media or use the special social media tiles created for the day.” Consumers can identify products made and grown locally by family businesses by looking for the FBA emblem and Australian Made, Australian Grown kangaroo logos on products in-store, or by visiting www.fambiz.org.au and http://ift.tt/1eX4FcM. Australian Manufacturing

Ai Group welcomes Queensland government’s focus on manufacturing Ai Group’s Queensland State Director, Jemina Dunn has hailed the Palaszczuk Government for showing “vision and foresight” in its referral of the state’s manufacturing industry to the Queensland Productivity Commission as announced by Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt on Friday. Image credit: aigroup.com.au Ms Dunn said the Queensland Government’s firm focus on advancing the state’s manufacturing sector was “potentially a game changer” for the industry in Queensland, which is already the third largest employer of full-time workers in the state contributing $19 billion to its economy and employing over 160,000 people. “We commend the Government for having the vision to take a broader view of the Queensland economy by recognising the importance of critical sectors such as manufacturing to the State’s future prosperity,” she said. “We particularly welcome the Treasurer’s request that the Commission focus on advanced manufacturing as well as the attention it gives to areas of traditional strength in manufacturing in Queensland. In reality these two dimensions overlap with many businesses in traditional manufacturing industries clearly qualifying as “advanced manufacturers”. Indeed at Ai Group we have the strong view that all manufacturers can become “advanced manufacturers”. She said the Government’s firm commitment to the sector had been illustrated through a number of initiatives in the recent past, including the identification of manufacturing as a priority industry in the state; the development of a future roadmap for advanced manufacturing; and the allocation of research funding under the Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships program. “Queensland has many highly innovative manufacturing companies that are doing exceptionally well globally and there is enormous potential to lift the broader sector to operate at a similar level. If we can achieve this the benefits for the Queensland economy will be significant,” Ms Dunn added. “The potential benefits of lifting the competitiveness of Queensland manufacturing are far reaching because of the sector’s very close links both as suppliers to and customers of agriculture, mining, building and construction and the services sector and because it is a major employer in the Queensland economy.” She said the both the Ai Group and Queensland manufacturers greatly value the government’s focus on the sector which is paramount to the future prosperity of the state. “Ai Group’s membership in Queensland includes businesses from a diverse range of manufacturing industries and we look forward to drawing on this considerable experience and expertise in shaping our input into this important review,” Ms Dunn said. “To this end we will be consulting closely with members in assisting the Queensland Productivity Commission to conduct its investigation and prepare its report. Manufacturing has a fantastic future in Queensland and industry and governments need to work closely together through mechanisms such as this to leverage the sector’s full potential.” Australian Manufacturing

Beston Global Foods completes acquisition of Australian Provincial Cheese Beston Global Food Company Limited (BFC) has agreed to acquire cream cheese maker Australian Provincial Cheese (APC) for $2.2 million. Image credit: http://ift.tt/25HcWNc The acquisition includes APC’s plant and equipment, its trademarks and intellectual property, as well as all other assets required for the production of its award winning cream cheese products under the Mable’s and Grange Peak brands. BFC said it will produce the Mable’s and Grange Peak products from its Murray Bridge site, with a view to growing the distribution of these cheeses by utilising its domestic and Asian networks. BFC Chairman, Mr Robert Sexton said the acquisition was the first step in the company’s expansion strategy for the Murray Bridge site. He said the strategy envisions the development of a state-of-the art cheese processing facility for manufacturing a range of high end, premium dairy products for both the domestic and export markets. Australian Manufacturing

Downer EDI wins multiple mining services contracts worth $250m Downer EDI’s mining services businesses have secured five separate contracts with a combined value of over $250 million. Image credit: www.downergroup.com Downer Blasting Services (DBS) has recently landed three contracts for the supply, manufacture and delivery of explosives and down the hole blasting services. The first contract award was from Newmont Asia Pacific for works at its Boddington Gold mine. This three-year contract – which can be extended for an additional two years – includes the customisation and ongoing management of an onsite emulsion manufacturing facility. DBS has also been handed a three and a half year contract, plus options for an additional two, two-year extensions, by Karara Mining Limited at its Karara mine site, where DBS has been providing basting services since 2012. DBS’ third contract is a five-year extension to its existing contract with Grange Resources which will see DBS provide blasting services at Grange’s Savage River mine site until at least 2021. Downer has also won an underground mining contract at Newmarket Gold Inc’s Fosterville Gold which includes providing ground support services and related mining services. Additionally, Waanyi ReGen, a 50:50 joint venture between the Waanyi Prescribed Body Corporate (Waanyi PBC) and Downer’s ReGen business, has won a three year contract covering water and land management and erosion prevention activities at the Century mine site. Downer’s CEO Grant Fenn said these contract awards from both and existing customers underlined the company’s broad capabilities in delivering mining services. “These new and extended contracts are a clear endorsement of Downer’s broad value proposition for mining services customers which includes enhancing safety, increasing productivity and engaging the local community,” Mr Fenn concluded. Australian Manufacturing

voestalpine opens new R&D centre for 3D printing of metal parts in Düsseldorf The voestalpine Group has greatly expanded its additive manufacturing capabilities with the opening of a new research and development centre for 3D printing of metal parts in Düsseldorf. Franz Rotter (Managing Director Special Steel Division), Wolfgang Eder (voestalpine CEO)Image credit: www.voestalpine.com The Additive Manufacturing Centre in Düsseldorf will house all the Group’s research activities in this field, harnessing the manufacturing process for particularly complex and lightweight metal components for use in aviation and aerospace, the automotive industry, tool manufacturing, etc. Wolfgang Eder, Chairman of the Management Board of voestalpine AG said the company regards innovation as a strategic driver of growth, making it a key factor in the success of the Group. “As a result of the intensive research and development work undertaken in the past 15 years, voestalpine has developed from a traditional steel manufacturer to become a global leading technology and capital goods group,” Mr Eder said. “We want to consistently strengthen this position, and continue to remain at the forefront of developments in new production processes such as additive manufacturing.” The Special Steel Division of the voestalpine Group has founded its own research company at the Düsseldorf site to leverage its potential over the long term. “The new development and test centre will continue to research and develop both metal powders and the design and production of metal components using 3D printing,” said Franz Rotter, the Head of the Special Steel Division. “It therefore represents a significant expansion to our existing material production and processing value chain for the most sophisticated industries.” Additive manufacturing generally involves synthesizing components, layer by layer, and involves no material losses. Because the raw material for metal additive manufacturing is a metal powder of the required composition (e.g. special steel, tool steel, nickel-based, titanium or cobalt-chromium alloys), voestalpine is also building up its expertise in producing powder for 3D metal printing, and is investing in special powder atomization facilities at the Group subsidiaries Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG, Austria, and Uddeholms AB, Sweden. According to the Group’s press release, the material produced at its sites in Sweden and Austria will then be turned into finished components by 3D printers at the voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Centre in Düsseldorf. voestalpine said it will now shift its focus on establishing more cooperative partnerships and locations in North America and China. Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the fifteenth year running Lightweight metals leader Alcoa has been named as one of the world’s leading companies for sustainability on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the fifteenth year in a row. The new Alcoa logo for the Upstream company Alcoa was also named the Aluminum Industry Leader on the Dow Jones World Index, a recognition that it has also received in the past. “As we prepare to launch two strong companies in the second half of 2016, we will continue using our innovation, creativity, and passion to deliver net-positive benefits to the environment, communities where we operate, our employees, and our shareholders,” said Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety Kevin McKnight. Alcoa lists the following achievements as highlights of its sustainability performance in 2015: Reaching its 2020 greenhouse gas intensity target five years ahead of schedule by reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 5.5 million metric tons and improving its greenhouse gas emission intensity by 31.3% from its 2005 baseline. Alcoa was one of the first companies to sign the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, committing to reduce absolute US greenhouse gas emissions by 50% versus a 2005 baseline. High-performance aluminium, titanium, and nickel-based alloy products developed by Alcoa are found from nose to tail on every high-growth commercial aircraft platform. These products are used to manufacture lighter, more fuel-efficient planes with highly efficient engines and smaller carbon footprints. Alcoa Micromill® material debuted on the 2016 Ford F-150 truck. This material is used to produce automotive parts that are twice as formable and 30% lighter than parts made from high-strength steel. Alcoa made substantial progress in improving bauxite residue storage efficiency and rehabilitation rate. The company also finalised biodiversity action plans for three locations, and minimised global mining footprint. The DJSI are the longest-running global sustainability benchmarks worldwide, measuring the performance of the world’s sustainability leaders based on a comprehensive assessment of long-term economic, environmental and social criteria that account for general as well as industry-specific sustainability trends. Australian Manufacturing

Victorian Government buys Holden’s landmark plant for reported $130m The Victorian Government has agreed to purchase Holden’s iconic manufacturing plant in Melbourne for $130 million, paving the way for plans to develop a leading design and engineering precinct. Image credit: Holden Australia Facebook page The 37.7-hectare Fishermans Bend site, which has been home of Holden for more than 80 years, will be transformed into an innovation and employment hub that will bring together industry leaders in the cutting edge areas of aerospace, defence, marine design, automotive design, and more. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said the site will become the centrepiece of the Fishermans Bend Employment Precinct which will support 80,000 residents and 60,000 jobs by 2050. “We will keep the spirit and ingenuity of Australian manufacturing alive and well at this iconic site with a new precinct for design, engineering and technology that will retain and create jobs for Victorians,” the Minister said. “We have a clear vision for this historic site and the future of Fishermans Bend, which builds on our strengths in defence, education and advanced manufacturing. This was a once in a generation opportunity to secure a site of this size and proximity to the CBD – we didn’t want to see it wasted.” Member for Albert Park Martin Foley said the purchase of the site, located in the heart of Fishermans Bend, means more jobs, more investment, more research and more development. “This announcement is a real game changer for the future planning of Fishermans Bend. High skilled knowledge jobs driving the jobs of the future will be central to the precinct,” Mr Foley concluded. The motoring giant announced late in 2013 that it would cease manufacturing in Australia by 2017 and move all production to Thailand and Korea. Shortly after, Toyota also announced that it would end manufacturing in the country, which coupled with Ford’s decision to cease its local manufacturing operations in October 2016, capped off a terrible year for Australia’s car making sector. Australian Manufacturing

Bayer acquires Monsanto for $66bn German drug maker Bayer has agreed to purchase US seed giant Monsanto for $66 billion, creating a vast conglomerate spanning pharmaceuticals, health products and pesticides. Werner Baumann (left), CEO of Bayer AG, and Hugh Grant, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MonsantoImage credit: wImage credit: www.bayer.com The $128-a-share deal, which values Monsanto at $56 billion, will combine two different, but highly complementary businesses into one entity which will benefit from Monsanto’s leadership in Seeds & Traits and Climate Corporation platform and Bayer’s broad Crop Protection product line across a comprehensive range of indications and crops in all key geographies. Bayer, which will also take on Monsanto’s $10 billion debt as part of the takeover agreement, said the merger will provide growers with a broad set of solutions to meet their current and future needs, including enhanced solutions in seeds and traits, digital agriculture, and crop protection. “We are pleased to announce the combination of our two great organizations,” said Werner Baumann, CEO of Bayer AG. “This represents a major step forward for our Crop Science business and reinforces Bayer’s leadership position as a global innovation driven Life Science company with leadership positions in its core segments, delivering substantial value to shareholders, our customers, employees and society at large.” Hugh Grant, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Monsanto, said the merger will bring together both companies’ leading innovation capabilities and R&D technology platforms, with an annual pro-forma R&D budget of approximately EUR 2.5 billion. According to him, the combined business will accelerate innovation and provide customers with enhanced solutions and an optimized product suite based on analytical agronomic insight supported by Digital Farming applications. “Today’s announcement is a testament to everything we’ve achieved and the value that we have created for our stakeholders at Monsanto. We believe that this combination with Bayer represents the most compelling value for our shareowners, with the most certainty through the all-cash consideration,” said Mr Grant added. According to Bayer, the combined agriculture business will have its global Seeds & Traits and North American commercial headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The global Crop Protection and overall Crop Science headquarters will be based in Monheim, Germany, with an important presence in Durham, North Carolina. The Digital Farming activities for the combined business will be based in San Francisco, California. “This combination is a great opportunity for employees, who will be at the forefront of innovation in our sector,” Mr Baumann remarked. “This transaction also enhances Bayer’s strong commitment to the U.S., building on our 150-year history with operations across 25 states employing more than 12,000 people in the country. I am convinced that Monsanto will flourish as part of one of the most respected and trusted companies in the world.” The acquisition, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year, is subject to customary closing conditions, including Monsanto shareholder approval of the merger agreement and receipt of required regulatory approvals. Australian Manufacturing

Ai Group teams up with Siemens, Swinburne University to deliver high-level Industry 4.0 apprenticeship initiative The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has teamed up with Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology to implement a project that could reinvent apprenticeships in Australia. Image credit: aigroup.com.au The project, which was announced by Ai Group’s Chief Executive Innes Willox last week, will create an apprenticeship model that will support the higher skills needed for the emerging fourth industrial revolution or otherwise known as Industry 4.0. “Ai Group’s Higher Level Applied Technology apprenticeship project has had funding approved under the Stream Two of the Apprenticeships Training – alternative delivery pilots initiative by the Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Karen Andrews. This innovative project will be implemented in collaboration with Siemens Ltd and Swinburne University of Technology,” Mr Willox said. “This is a ground-breaking initiative. Not only will this provide higher level qualifications, it will also appeal to a broader cross-section of young people who will gain these qualifications while working in a company that is a technology leader.” A successful apprentice will receive a new Diploma and Associate Degree in Applied Technologies developed by Siemens, the leader of the Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce, in collaboration with related companies and the Swinburne University of Technology. According to Siemens, the qualification combines key industry initiatives and policies, such as the National Science and Innovation Agenda and the Growth Centres initiatives, into a practical experiential learning environment to address particular industry needs with a focus on the adoption of high-level technology skills and the tools required for the future workforce. The pilot brings together the best of university and vocational learning models to improve the STEM skills of technically minded participants and also incorporates skills for the new millennia in business and design. Mr Willox said participants will be highly capable post-Year 12 school leavers and will be employed under arrangements built upon the apprenticeship model for the duration of the program. “The award of an Associate Degree articulating to a Bachelor’s Degree will appeal to a broader range of potential applicants than the standard apprenticeship model. Employers are able to train future technicians with a higher skills level to meet their increasing needs in the knowledge economy,” he added. Siemens’ CEO Jeff Connolly said the pilot will initially involve 20 participants through participation in a Diploma and Associate Degree in Applied Technologies with guaranteed pathways for graduates to a relevant Bachelor Degree by 2020. Image credit: corporate.siemens.com.au “The industrial environment has entered a phase of digital revolution. Australia needs to continuously modify education content and delivery models in order to equip today’s youth with the skills needed to be a part of the digitalised future,” Mr Connolly said. “The Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce Apprenticeship program is a practical, action-oriented approach which should further increase our ability to be a part of the future of advanced manufacturing and secure jobs in major global supply chains,” Professor Linda Kristjanson, Vice Chancellor of Swinburne University, said the University was determined to deliver social and economic impact in collaboration with industry. “As Australia’s labour market is fundamentally reshaped by technological change, our education and training system must continue to evolve to meet industry needs, Ms Kristjanson said. “The program will deliver graduates with the skills required to meet the impact of disruptive technologies in all industries and provide them with a competitive edge.” Australian Manufacturing

Bruce Rock Engineering opens new manufacturing plant, unveils 60 metre road train Leading heavy road transport equipment manufacturer Bruce Rock Engineering (BRE) has officially opened its Perth metropolitan workshop facility in Forrestfield. Image credit: Bruce Rock Engineering Facebook page According to the company, all design, manufacture and construction of its manufacturing equipment is being carried out at the new purpose-built facility, which is one hectare in size and covers 27,000 square metres including 350 square metres of administration offices. During the opening of the new plant, the company also showcased the BRE Super-Quad, a 60 metre road train tipped to deliver much needed cost efficiencies to the mining sector whilst reducing heavy vehicle road traffic and the impact on road infrastructure in the State. BRE’s Managing Director, Mr Damion Verhoogt said the fabrication of the chassis of the Super-Quad was completed in the new facility, whilst its body, blasting, painting and assembly was completed in Bruce Rock. “Today’s launch is a significant milestone for the business cumulating the organisation’s recent expansion into the east coast to extend the company’s capacity to deliver transport equipment to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania,” Mr Verhoogt said. “The significance of the Forrestfied location means that we are close to our clients and have the ability to provide Perth metropolitan access to repairs, modifications and maintenance.” Mr Verhoogt also announced the BRE’s merger with welding and fabrication specialists Transbeam Industries, saying it will increase the company’s manufacturing capacity by close to 50%. “The Transbeam partnership brings with it considerable benefits to the operation, most notably the new plasma profile cutting machine which is the biggest and most advanced of its kind in Western Australia” Mr Verhoogt added. Australian Manufacturing

Hedweld Engineering opens new manufacturing plant in the Hunter Valley Hedweld Engineering, the leading designer, manufacturer and exporter of mining and safety equipment has officially opened its new advanced manufacturing facility in the Hunter Valley. Image credit: Hedweld Facebook page The $8 million plant, which was as established with the help of a $2 million Manufacturing Transition Programme grant from the Australian Government, will house some of the world’s most technologically advanced machinery that will significantly boost the company’s production capacity. The new plant will also allow Hedweld to diversify into new sectors such as the agribusiness, defence, construction, civil engineering and underground mining markets. Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Craig Laundy, who attended the official opening of the new facility, said the expansion would enable Hedweld to increase its competitiveness, create skilled job opportunities for the Hunter Valley and increase exports. “Hedweld has invested in a world class manufacturing facility using the world’s most advanced robotic metal processing technology and equipment,” the Minister added. The Manufacturing Transition Programme provides manufacturing businesses with grant funding to increase competitiveness and supports capital investment projects that help businesses to move or expand into higher value and/or niche manufacturing activities. The programme also helps businesses build skills in higher value and knowledge intensive activities in new or growing markets. Australian Manufacturing

Alstom to build nine new X’Trapolis trains for Melbourne’s rail network The immediate future of Altom’s Ballarat workshop looks all but secured after Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announced an order of nine new X’Trapolis trains to be manufactured at the plant. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1oBNQfi The new 54 carriage order is part of the Government’s Trains, Trams, Jobs: Rolling Stock Strategy, which was devised to put an end to the ad-hoc procurement of trains and trams, giving certainty to companies and workers in the engineering and manufacturing industries. According to the Minister, the first train is expected to enter service in mid-2018, following the delivery of existing orders underway, with delivery of the ninth train expected in early 2019. “We’re getting on with improving public transport, building the infrastructure we need like the Metro Tunnel and new trains, to keep Victoria moving,” Ms Allan said. “We’re guaranteeing local jobs at Alstom in Ballarat and the broader supply chain in Victoria.” Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight said there will be a fleet of 101 X’Trapolis trains on Melbourne’s network once this work is completed. “I’m really proud of the quality of work the employees at Alstom’s Ballarat workshops turn out and of the contribution Alstom makes to our local community,” she added. “These nine new trains, built in Ballarat for Melbourne, secures local jobs for years to come.” Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard said the new trains will boost reliability and improve the carriages to make them more comfortable for passengers. “Our pipeline of investment in trains and trams gives local workers certainty, boosts Ballarat’s economy and the capacity of Melbourne’s rail network,” Mr Howard said. Australian Manufacturing

Talga announces graphene partnership with German battery group Advanced materials company Talga Resources has partnered with German-based technology company JenaBatteries to jointly explore use of Talga’s graphene products in flow batteries. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2cGYzDs Under the agreement, Talga will formulate and supply graphene for testing in components producing JenaBatteries’ patented polymer flow battery, a type of redox flow battery suitable for commercial scale and grid applications. A flow battery, or redox flow battery, is a type of rechargeable battery where rechargeability is provided by two chemical components dissolved in liquids and separated by a membrane. Energy is stored in the liquid electrolyte in external tanks (rather in the battery cell). Talga’s graphite will aim to reduce manufacturing costs and increase the performance and longevity of the flow battery by utilising graphene’s renowned properties of conductivity, chemical inertness and impermeability. Talga said the collaboration will provide a platform for its graphene to be introduced to the large scale stationary energy storage sector, using variants of its graphene already developed for mobile energy applications. Managing Director Mark Thompson said each company will contribute its own intellectual property and products to the collaboration and can share jointly in any new technologies resulting from the collaboration. “We are delighted to formally advance another industry partnership and collaboration opportunity. This agreement supports our recently announced graphene products strategy and highlights the growing applications for our graphene in the energy storage sector,” Mr Thompson added. “JenaBatteries are an innovative company, who like us, are targeting the more industrial scale applications for our respective technologies. We very much look forward to sharing joint success with Olaf and his team.” JenaBatteries Managing Director Olaf Conrad said he was hopeful the collaboration will yield exciting results for both parties. “Fuel cells share many parallels with flow batteries and thus we are very interested to see how publicised graphene results in fuel cells can translate into an industrial scale setting with our redox flow batteries,” Mr Conrad said. “The components of our energy storage systems can potentially benefit from the unique properties of materials like graphene with regard to longevity, performance and cost and we are excited to be collaborating with Talga on this joint program.” Australian Manufacturing

Campbell’s Soup Australia wins top honour at inaugural Soft Tissue Centre Awards Campbell’s Soup Australia has won the first Soft Tissue Centre (STC) Gold Star Award for employee health and wellness after recording zero Lost Time Injuries for each of the past three years (no productive work time lost due to injury) and just one injury for each of the past two years. Image credit: STC facebook page The STC Silver Award went to Greater Shepparton City Council while the Bronze was awarded to CGT Ballarat Gold Mine. Greater Shepparton City Council had just three WorkCover claims in the past year, a 40% fall in days lost due to injury and a 53% decrease in reported injuries. STC has been working with GSCC for almost three years. CGT Ballarat Gold Mine had a 76% drop in days lost due to injury in the past 12 months, a 50% fall in WorkCover claims and a 44% decrease in cases involving lost time. STC has been working with CGT Ballarat Gold Mine for the past year. The Soft Tissue Centre (STC) is a Gisborne-based health management service specialising in supporting employees in the workplace. Founded in 2000, it focuses in prevention, early intervention and innovative treatment of work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Today it works with employees and employers at 60 sites across Australia. STC Founder and Managing Director, Dr James Murray said the STC Awards were established to recognise outstanding achievement in workplace health and wellbeing. “Our approach is the sports model, keeping everyone on the field for the duration of the game. Campbell’s Soup Australia is certainly doing that, zero lost time injuries for the past three years. This is an outstanding result and proof that it can be achieved,” Dr Murray said. “Greater Shepparton City Council and CGT Ballarat Gold Mine have achieved significant reductions in WorkCover claims, injuries and time lost due to injury. They are fast becoming leaders in their field. There can be health, wellness and productivity in the workplace. It is achievable. Commercial success does not have to come at the expense of employee health. In fact, employee health and wellness are the key to success.” Dr Murray will present the awards to the companies at a morning tea in Shepparton, on 16 September. Australian Manufacturing

Evolution Rail consortium selected to build Melbourne’s 65 new High Capacity Metro Trains The Evolution Rail consortium, comprising Downer Rail, CRRC, and Plenary, has been selected as the preferred tenderer to build Melbourne’s 65 new High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) following an extensive 12-month global tender process. Image credit: Victorian Government’s YouTube channel Making the announcement, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the project will create 1,100 highly-skilled local jobs, bolstering the state’s reputation as a global hub of rolling stock manufacturing. He said all 65 of the new trains will be built in Victoria, with 60 per cent local content and a strong industry participation plan that includes 15% Victorian apprentices, trainees and cadets, as well as workers from disadvantaged backgrounds. “The state’s largest single order of new trains will be built in Victoria, for Victoria,” Mr Andrews said. “This brings enormous benefits to our state, creating 1,100 local jobs and cementing Victoria’s reputation as the nation’s hub for high-skilled manufacturing and a global hub for train building.” To answer the demands of a project of such magnitude, Downer’s Newport manufacturing facility will undergo a $16 million upgrade, whereas CRRC will establish a new regional headquarters in Melbourne. In addition, a new maintenance and stabling depot in Pakenham East will be built with 87% local content, providing 100 new long-term ongoing jobs for the community. The new HCMTs will not only be longer than existing trains, but will also be safer, more reliable and more comfortable for passengers. The first train will be delivered by November 2018, with all 65 trains rolling out as a dedicated fleet in time for the opening of the Metro Tunnel in 2026. “This is every train we need to boost services in Melbourne’s south east and run the turn-up-and-go services we’ll deliver by building the Metro Tunnel,” said Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan. “These new high capacity trains will do the heavy lifting on the Cranbourne-Pakenham lines, ahead of the opening of the Metro Tunnel, enabling more passengers to travel during the busiest parts of the day.” To meet demand on the network prior to the roll-out of HCMTs, nine new six-car trains will also be ordered from Alstom, securing work at the company’s Ballarat workshop until at least 2019. Australian Manufacturing

Victorian boat manufacturer wins government grant to boost production Bar Crusher Boats, the largest manufacturer of “plate” aluminium trailer boats in Australia, has received a $320,000 funding boost from the Victorian state government to invest in new equipment and increase its exports by over $1 million. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1oBNQfi Bar Crusher manufactures boats from 4.9m to 7.8m in length for the recreational and fishing boating industry, which is worth $4.5 billion in Victoria alone. The Dandenong South based boat manufacturer will use the funding to purchase and implement the latest Robotic Processing Line, which will provide world-class production capability, and increase the capacity and competitiveness of its production facility. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan, who visited the company’s manufacturing facility in Dandenong South said the funding will enable the company to undertake a $1.44 million project, take on 12 new workers, transition five existing staff members and increase its exports by over $1 million. “Our Future Industries Manufacturing Program is helping businesses, small and large, to invest in new technologies and processes that will transition Victoria towards an advanced manufacturing economy,” the Minister said. “We are investing in the south-east to help businesses diversify into new markets, to help workers transition into new jobs and to help our local communities survive and grow.” This grant award builds on the nine projects already underway as part of the Labor Government’s Future Industries Manufacturing Program, which provides companies with grants of up to $500,000 to invest in new manufacturing technologies and processes, and create jobs. For more information about the Program, visit http://ift.tt/1U7xUML. Australian Manufacturing

Babcock secures multi-year contract to transform Qantas’ airline ground support fleet Babcock has been awarded a five-year contract to support the Qantas Group’s fleet of Ground Support Equipment (GSE), which comprises more than 10,000 assets spread across over 60 locations across Australia. Image credit: http://ift.tt/SLLcix The five year Asset Management partnership, which can be extended for a further two years, will see Babcock team up with Qantas to transform the airline’s entire GSE fleet, improving reliability and delivering long term cost and capability benefits in the process. Babcock already provides a range of support services at international airports, including in London, Amsterdam, Sao Paolo, and most recently Rome. The company’s Australasia Chief Operating Officer David Ruff said the new contract was a testament to Babcock’s capability to deliver fleet management services to a range of customers including the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police. “We are excited to work in an innovative partnership with an iconic Australian company,” Mr Ruff said. “We have a proven track record of improving performance and reliability whilst delivering cost savings, and look forward to delivering safe and effective fleet capability at every Qantas operating site.” Graeme Nayler, the company’s Director Corporate Development, said Babcock has already completed a large chunk of the design and implementation work and was ready to “hit the ground running”. “Our vision for Qantas is one where GSE is managed and measured centrally through a single asset management system and is accessible to all business units and sites, no matter how remote,” Mr Nayler remarked. Babcock is a leading engineering services and operational support organisation, with over 34,000 employees around the globe and revenues of over AU$9.5 billion. The company employs 700 staff in Australia and New Zealand. Australian Manufacturing

AMCL “in disbelief” over defence uniforms contract The Government’s decision to award a $9 million contract for making ceremonial Australian Defence Force uniforms to a company who sources the clothing out of China was met with heavy criticism by the Australia Made Campaign (AMCL). Image credit: http://ift.tt/29fs8y2 The contract was awarded to Australian Defence Apparel, which will produce the clothing using “established sub-contractor arrangements” overseas. The AMCL said that by choosing the cheapest option in order to save taxpayers money, the Government ignored the greater good of generating a positive flow on effects in terms of jobs, economic benefits and taxes paid that would come by choosing an Australian manufacturer. AMCL Chief Executive Ian Harrison said it was beyond belief the Defence Department was dressing its soldiers in clothing made in China solely because of a cheaper upfront price. “To put our soldiers in uniforms made in other countries, when we have the capacity here in Australia to make uniforms, is mind blowing,” Mr Harrison said. “There are not many things more Australian than the Defence Force and Australia is where its uniforms should be made. The Government has failed to look at the longer term impact of its decision. Government procurement shouldn’t just be about looking for the cheapest price. It should be about using taxpayers’ dollars to invest in building a more competitive manufacturing industry in Australia.” Australian Manufacturing

Local Motors’ new 3D printed, self-driving car will have a drone launch pad (VIDEO) Local Motors and Mouser Electronics have announced the winner of the Local Motors Essence of Autonomy challenge which asked participants to come up with innovative and useful features to be included in Local Motor’s next 3D printed self-driving car. Image credit: cocreate.localmotors.com The winning submission belonged to Finn Yonkers of Rhode Island, who proposed that the Local Motors Strati be equipped with a drone launch pad on the back of the vehicle and screens that deploy inside of the windshield. His entry envisaged that, without the responsibility of driving, the riders’ drone could fly overhead and use a camera to project a bird’s-eye view to the screens inside. The win will see Mr Yonkers’ vehicle be built and become part of Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together program, and will also allow him to fly to Local Motors headquarters in Phoenix to build the vehicle alongside Imahara and Local Motors engineers. “Local Motors already had most of the technology to make the autonomous vehicle figured out. This project was about taking it to the next level,” said engineer Grant Imahara. “To do this we called on the imaginations of engineers all across the world. Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together™ program and vast array of parts enabled this, so it was a great partnership to bring our shared vision to life.” Local Motors Co-founder and CEO John B. Rogers, Jr. said the company’s approach to direct digital manufacturing and the ingenuity of its co-creation community meant that Local Motors could partner with cutting-edge suppliers like Mouser Electronics to bring innovations to life at unprecedented speeds. “The Mouser Strati offers a glimpse into the future of autonomous driving right now,” he added. Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics, said one of the company’s cornerstone principles was to help engineers push the boundaries of innovation. “It’s not just fun — it’s rewarding. By increasing innovation and the speed of technology, we can all do more to help humanity and our world,” Mr Smith said. “We look forward to unveiling the finished product soon. Stay tuned!” Australian Manufacturing

Volvo’s self-driving truck goes deep underground (VIDEO) Volvo’s fully autonomous truck has become the world’s first self-driving truck to be tested in real-life deep underground operations as part of a R&D project with Saab’s wholly owned technology consulting company Combitech aimed at improving the transport flow and safety in the mine. Image credit: news.volvogroup.com The Swedish car maker has released a film showing its specially equipped Volvo FMX covering a distance of 7 kilometres and reaching 1,320 metres underground in the narrow mine tunnels of the Kristineberg Mine located in northern Sweden. “This is the world’s first fully self-driving truck to operate under such tough conditions,” said Torbjörn Holmström, member of the Volvo Group Executive Board and Volvo Group Chief Technology Officer. “It is a true challenge to ensure that everything works meticulously more than 1300 metres underground.” Mr Holmström, who takes part in the film, said he didn’t hesitate to stand in the middle of the mine gallery as the truck approached him. “No matter what type of vehicle we develop, safety is always our primary concern and this also applies to self-driving vehicles,” he added. “I was convinced the truck would stop but naturally I felt a knot in my stomach until the truck applied its brakes!” The self-driving truck uses various sensors to continuously monitors its surroundings and avoid both fixed and moving obstacles. It is also fitted with an on-board transport system that collects data to optimise and coordinate the route and fuel consumption. Australian Manufacturing

Explosion kills two at Orica’s plant in Chile Two workers have been killed in an accident that occurred at Orica’s packaged emulsions manufacturing plant in Antofagasta, Chile. Image credit: www.orica.com According to the company, the plant was undergoing maintenance when an explosion occurred, resulting in the death of two workers. “Any incident that results in fatalities or injuries is devastating, and our concern now is to support the families and colleagues of our two workers,” the company said in a press release. Orica is an Australian-based multinational corporation that provides commercial explosives and blasting systems for the mining and infrastructure markets. Australian Manufacturing

Arrium executes first steel shipment for ARCT’s re-railing project Arrium has commenced the delivery of steel rail for the major upgrade of South Australia’s rail network as part of its contract with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to supply 73,000 tonnes of rail over the next three years. Image credit: www.arrium.com Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the first train carrying steel rail for the upgrade has departed Arrium’s steelworks in Whyalla on Friday. He said the steel will be used to replace old rail on the railway line from Adelaide to Tarcoola with heavier, stronger steel. “We are boosting the economy and saving money for freight companies by upgrading this 1,200 kilometres of rail to move more freight, faster between Adelaide and Tarcoola,” Mr Chester said. Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Greg Hunt said the contract helps secure an order of steel worth tens of millions of dollars, creating up to 130 direct and indirect local jobs on the re-railing project. “In addition to using Arrium’s steel for the railway, we are supporting the industry by using Australian steel across our naval shipbuilding program and by strengthening Australia’s anti-dumping system,” Mr Hunt added. “And earlier this year the Government approved a $49.2 million loan to Arrium which will be used to purchase equipment for the company’s iron ore operations near Whyalla. We want to set the right business environment to ensure Australian firms like Arrium can grow, prosper and be globally competitive.” ARTC Chief Executive John Fullerton said the Corporation had been busily finalising a “careful, staged roll-out plan for the project”, but had a focus on delivering early orders of steel. “The existing rail between Adelaide and Tarcoola has been nearing its end of life and the new rail delivered by this contract will allow rail operators to carry heavier wagons of freight at faster speeds,” Mr Fullerton said. “This means ongoing benefits from this project for Australian businesses and ultimately, consumers.” Australian Manufacturing

ARENA announces support for 12 new solar projects The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will support the construction of 12 new large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants as part of its multi-million dollar large-scale solar round. Image credit: arena.gov.au ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the funding would help triple the amount of energy produced from big solar and unlock almost $1 billion of commercial investment in regional Australian economies. “ARENA is working to accelerate Australia’s shift to a sustainable, affordable and reliable energy future and our work supporting the development of Australia’s large-scale solar industry is central to this vision,” Mr Frischknecht said. “Six plants in Queensland, five plants in New South Wales and one plant in Western Australia are slated for funding, in a major milestone that’s expected to triple Australia’s large-scale solar capacity from 240 MW to 720 MW. The 12 project will provide enough energy to power 150,000 average Australian homes and deliver one tenth of the new capacity required to meet Australia’s 2020 renewable energy target. “Regional economies will benefit massively from the growing big solar industry, with 2,300 direct jobs and thousands more indirect jobs expected to be created by this round. It is now up to successful companies to deliver these projects in line with ARENA’s requirements, which could see all plants built by the end of next year,” Mr Frischknecht added. “This is an aggressive timetable to lock in financing, off take arrangements, connection agreements and required approvals. Several are seeking debt financing for projects through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s complementary large-scale solar program.” Mr Frischknecht said ARENA has played a huge role in bringing down costs and accelerating the commerciality of large-scale solar in Australia since it was established in 2012. “ARENA has carried out a multiyear plan to build capacity in Australian supply chains and expertise over successive large-scale solar projects,” he said. “As a result of our efforts, the ARENA funding ask for big solar projects has dropped significantly from half of total project costs to just 10 per cent on average. This means that every dollar of ARENA funding is leveraging $10 from other sources in this round. He said the agency has more than doubled its expectation of enabling around 200 MW of new projects through this round with the $92 million funding supporting around 480 MW in total. “Australia’s big solar revolution is tantalisingly close and, as more home-grown businesses step up to provide construction, engineering and financial services, this newest tranche of ARENA-supported projects is well positioned to take the sector even closer to commerciality,” Mr Frischknecht concluded. Some of the projects supported through ARENA’s multi-million dollar large-scale solar round include Origin Energy’s Darling Downs Solar Farm, Neoen Australia’s Parkes Solar Farm and Genex Power’s Kidston Solar Farm. Australian Manufacturing

CSIRO opens new hybrid energy technology centre CSIRO has officially launched its Centre for Hybrid Energy Systems which will research cutting edge renewable and hybrid energy technologies. Centre for Hybrid Energy SystemsImage credit: www.csiro.au According to CSIRO, the collaborative facility will serve as a hub for researchers and industry to “identify, improve and then tailor energy technologies” to meet specific requirements. “Combining two or more forms of energy generation, storage or end-use technologies, hybrid systems deliver overall cost and efficiency benefits, compared with single source energy systems,” the CSIRO said in a press release. “Configurations include renewable or non-renewable energy sources, electrical and chemical energy storage and fuel cells, often connected via a smart grid. The collaborative space will be used to share the benefits of emerging hybrid energy systems with industry and government to maximise the value of local energy sources.” CSIRO Fellow Dr Sukhvinder Badwal said the world was experiencing a rapidly growing demand for hybrid energy systems based on increased availability of renewable and modular power generation and storage technologies like batteries, fuel cells, and household solar. “These technologies are becoming cost competitive, but the key to greater use is to combine them in connected hybrid systems,” Dr Badwal added. “By doing this, we can offer substantial improvements in performance, reliability of power, flexibility and cost.” CSIRO’s project partner, Delta Energy Systems Australia, is a developer and manufacturer of environmentally-friendly electric vehicle, solar-supported, fast-charging technologies. The company’s Director Allen Chao said they plan on embarking on a range of collaborative research projects with CSIRO in this field. “The opening of the Centre for Hybrid Energy Systems will expand research in this area and marks a significant milestone to ensure the success of any industry cooperation,” Mr Chao said. In addition to supporting research into renewable and hybrid energy technologies, the Centre for Hybrid Energy Systems will also provide education, testing and certification services for emerging storage batteries, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Australian Manufacturing

Victoria’s defence manufacturing industry on display at Land Forces 2016 expo Victoria’s defence manufacturing industry is showcasing its world-class capabilities to take on major defence contracts at the Land Forces 2016 exhibition in Adelaide this week. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2cwSR5N Minister for Industry and Employment, Wade Noonan said the Andrews Labor Government is supporting 17 local manufacturers to display their commercial land defence capabilities at the three day expo, which is attended by defence and trade delegations from around the globe. He said Victoria’s capabilities make it the logical choice for the manufacture of the Australian Government’s $5 billion Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle acquisition program, also known as LAND 400 Phase 2. “Victoria’s track record of supporting military vehicles make it the natural home to build the next generation Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle and military vehicle programs well into the future,” Mr Noonan said. He said Victoria’s, strength in defence manufacturing has been highlighted by the $1.3 billion dollar Commonwealth contract to build the new Hawkei military vehicle in Bendigo, and by Lockheed Martin’s decision to locate its first R&D Centre outside the United States in Melbourne. “The Land Forces 2016 conference showcases how Victoria’s highly capable defence industry stands ready and able to support global land defence projects,” the Minister added. The Victorian defence industry includes more than 300 businesses, directly employing around 7,000 people who make equipment and provide services for defence activities. It contributes up to $8 billion to the state’s economy. Australian Manufacturing

Nine Victorian automotive supply chain firms receive funding to devise transition plan Nine Victorian automotive supply chain companies will receive assistance under the Labor Government’s Automotive Supply Chain Transition Program (ASCTP) to develop a plan for transition and adapt to the changing automotive manufacturing landscape in the state. Image credit: www.business.gov.au Australian Performance Vehicles, A Bending Company, Dana Australia, Luna Name Plate Industries, Motherson Elastomers, Premoso (trading as Holden Special Vehicles), Socobell Automotive, Socobell OEM and Total Tooling Co will receive $144,000 in funding to diversify into new markets ahead of the closure of automotive manufacturing in Victoria. Announcing the assistance, Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said this round of funding builds on $446,000 already provided to 20 Victorian automotive supply chain companies under the ASCTP program. “The Andrews Labor Government is targeting our assistance towards the many businesses in the auto supply chain who will be affected by the closure of car manufacturing in Victoria,” the Minister said. “Funding will help Victoria’s auto businesses identify new opportunities and target markets, and put themselves and their workers on a strong footing into the future. Under the $46.5 million ASCTP program, eligible supply chain companies stand to receive a suite of assistance valued at up to $71,000 to engage the services of a qualified industry specialist to help develop a plan for transition. Automotive supply chain businesses interested in applying for ASCTP assistance, or specialist companies seeking to deliver transition projects are encouraged to visit http://ift.tt/1RHEYR0. Australian Manufacturing

Samsung and MakerBot team up to bring 3D printers to Europe’s classrooms As part of its digital skills programme, Samsung has partnered with 3D printing industry giant MakerBot to equip Europe’s schools, colleges and museums with 3D printers. Evelyn Nicola, Sustainability & Citizenship Manager, Samsung EuropeImage credit: Samsung websiteAndreas Langfeld, General Manager of MakerBot EMEA Image credit: Samsung website “In response to the alarming skills gap and high levels of youth unemployment in 2013, we backed the European Commission’s Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs with a pledge to engage 400,000 young people across Europe by 2019,” said Evelyn Nicola, Sustainability & Citizenship Manager, Samsung Europe. “We will achieve our goal 3 years early so we can now invest further in educating thousands of young people in the latest digital skills.” According to Ms Nicola, the partnership with MakerBot is set to support a network of “Lighthouse Schools” – centres of excellence for digital learning across Europe – to teach technology skills and encourage design and manufacture. “Just imagine a 9-year-old girl with her idea for a new design, being able to turn her idea at school into reality and take home. Experiencing the entire creation journey, from idea to digital concept to physical object represents the future of learning and R&D,” she said. According to the official announcement, the planned first phase launches in Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Sweden this year. “Samsung and MakerBot share the same vision of developing new technologies that help prepare students for the jobs of the future,” said Andreas Langfeld, General Manager of MakerBot EMEA. “3D printing can help teach many of the 21st century skills that employers are looking for and applying knowledge to the real world. We’re excited to partner with Samsung to help even more educators and students discover the power of 3D printing.” Australian Manufacturing

ABB unveils Azipod XL, the world’s most efficient electric propulsion system for marine vessels Global Technology company ABB has announced the release of Azipod XL, the latest version of its market leading podded electric propulsion system which set an industry standard for the marine industry since its introduction 25 years ago. Image credit: www.abb.com Azipod propulsion is a gearless steerable propulsion system with the electric drive motor located in a submerged pod outside the ship hull. Featuring a 360-degree manoeuvring capability, it is used to both steer and drive a wide variety of vessels at the same time. Azipod XL increases vessel fuel efficiency to an unprecedented level of up to 20% compared to modern shaft line propulsion systems by using a unique nozzle system that accelerates the water flow into the propeller to increase thrust, and by redesigning the thruster for reduced water resistance. Azipod propulsion systems have thus far clocked more than 12 million running hours with an availability of 99.8%, saving over 700,000 tons of fuel. Peter Terwiesch, president of ABB’s Process Automation division said the Azipod XL system fits vessels such as tugs and offshore construction vessels, as well as ferries and LNG tankers. “We continuously strive to advance our technology to the benefit of our customers and the environment, as part of our Next Level strategy. Azipod XL is a perfect example for this approach as it represents the biggest jump in the systems’ fuel efficiency in recent years,” Mr Terwiesch said. “To put it in perspective, replacing all existing Azipod units with the new model would save the shipping industry an additional 2.2 million tons of fuel and 7 million tons of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years.” Azipod XL’s features include the capability for advanced condition monitoring using ABB’s concept of the Internet of Things, Services and People (IoTSP) and its Integrated Operations Centers for Marine, continuously monitoring equipment and performance parameters of more than 600 vessels. Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems’ CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle debuts in Australia BAE Systems is set to showcase its Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) CV90 in Australia at Land Forces 2016, one of the premier land defence events in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region which is taking place in Adelaide. Image credit: www.baesystems.com BAE Systems, in partnership with Patria, is offering the CV90 in response to the Commonwealth’s request for information for the LAND 400 Phase 3 program. The CV90 is a tracked combat vehicle that was designed in Sweden, providing high tactical and strategic mobility, air defence, anti-tank capability, high survivability, and lethality in any terrain or tactical environment. Capable of carrying eight dismounts, CV90 is the only vehicle of its kind in the world that is still in production, with a pedigree of multiple successful worldwide operations that include United Nations and NATO missions. The company said the CV90 is a low-risk, military off-the-shelf offering that is ready now for Phase 3. “Combined with the E35 turret, the CV9035 — a variant of the vehicle with a 35mm gun system — provides superior lethality with a high level of commonality with the AMV35 offered for Phase 2. With proven operations around the globe, CV90 will bring the Commonwealth a mature, low total-ownership cost, sustainment program,” BAE said in a media release. “Like the AMV35, CV90 for Phase 3 is well positioned to support and integrate Australian Industrial Capability to deliver jobs and sovereign capability. CV90’s proven design pedigree ensures the growth capacity to address the Commonwealth’s evolving operational requirements of the planned 30-year life of type.” There are nine different CV90 variants in service, with the latest variant currently in production for Norway. Australian Manufacturing

CFMEU: New case of Black Lung disease shows crisis is escalating The CFMEU has confirmed the 15th case of Black Lung disease in the country since its re-emergence at coal mines in Queensland last year. Image credit: CFMEU The miner, whose identity remains unknown, was diagnosed with the disease by the internationally recognised Black Lung disease expert Dr Bob Cohen, despite originally being cleared on two separate occasions by nominated medical assessors and radiologists. CFMEU Mining and Energy Division Queensland District President, Stephen Smyth said the new case only confirmed the union’s fears that health professionals assigned to review x-rays of the mining workforce were not qualified for the task. “It is unbelievable that this disease was missed twice by Australian health professionals in less than a year. Even when Black Lung disease expert Dr Bob Cohen told them it was there they still couldn’t identify it. That’s a nominated medical assessor, and a radiologist who have missed this disease and let a worker go back into dangerous and dusty conditions underground,” Mr Smyth said. “This failure shows that the Black Lung crisis is escalating and why coalmine workers have lost all confidence in the health and regulatory systems that are supposed to be there to keep them safe.” He said while the union was aware of more cases of Black Lung disease – especially from coalmine workers not willing to risk their jobs and livelihoods by coming forward – failures in the system were also deflating confirmed cases. “This coalmine worker had two tests done in 12-months, and both were cleared by Australian health professionals. He also would have had tests done when he started working in Queensland mines, and x-rays done every five years since then. Yet, he has no idea how long he has been living with Black Lung,” Mr Smyth added. “When the system is still failing to identify Black Lung disease despite multiple checks then we still just don’t know how many cases there could be or how many workers are living with the disease but are still going to work each day.” The disease, which was thought to have been eradicated decades ago, is caused by a build-up of coal dust in the lungs due to inadequate ventilation and health standards in coalmines. Australian Manufacturing

GE to fork out $1.4bn for two European 3D printing companies Industrial powerhouse General Electric (GE) has unveiled plans to acquire two European suppliers of additive manufacturing equipment for a combined consideration of $1.4 billion. Image: http://twitter.com/generalelectric GE said it will submit offers to buy Arcam AB and SLM Solutions Group AG as part of its strategy to bolster its existing material science and additive manufacturing capabilities. “Additive manufacturing is a key part of GE’s evolution into a digital industrial company. We are creating a more productive world with our innovative world-class machines, materials and software. We are poised to not only benefit from this movement as a customer, but spearhead it as a leading supplier,” said Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE. “Additive manufacturing will drive new levels of productivity for GE, our customers, including a wide array of additive manufacturing customers, and for the industrial world.” Sweden’s Arcam AB invented the electron beam melting machine for metal-based additive manufacturing, and also produces advanced metal powders. The company, which services customers in the aerospace and healthcare industries, generated $68 million in revenues in 2015 with approximately 285 employees. In addition to its Sweden site in Mölndal, Arcam operates AP&C, a metal powders operation in Canada, and DiSanto Technology, a medical additive manufacturing firm in Connecticut, as well as sales and application sites worldwide. SLM Solutions Group is a Germany-based company that produces laser machines for metal-based additive manufacturing with customers in the aerospace, energy, healthcare, and automotive industries. Last year SLM generated $74 million with 260 employees. The company also has sales and application sites worldwide. Both companies will report into David Joyce, President & CEO of GE Aviation, who will lead the growth of these businesses in the additive manufacturing equipment and services industry. Mr Joyce said GE has invested approximately $1.5 billion in manufacturing and additive technologies since 2010. He said the investment has enabled the company to develop additive applications across six GE businesses, create new services applications across the company, and earn 346 patents in powder metals alone. “Additive manufacturing fits GE’s business model to lead in technologies that leverage systems integration, material science, services and digital productivity. It will benefit from the GE Store and our core engineering capability, said Mr Joyce, who will also lead the integration effort and the GE Store initiative to drive additive manufacturing applications across GE. “We chose these two companies for a reason. We love the technologies and leadership of Arcam AB and SLM Solutions. They each bring two different, complementary additive technology modalities as individual anchors for a new GE additive equipment business to be plugged into GE’s resources and experience as leading practitioners of additive manufacturing. Over time, we plan to extend the line of additive manufacturing equipment and products.” Australian Manufacturing

Samsung Electronics Australia recalls Galaxy Note7 smartphone due to fire concerns Samsung Electronics Australia is recalling 51,060 Galaxy Note7 smartphones in the country as part of a worldwide recall of the new devices following reports of exploding batteries. Image credit: www.samsung.com The Australian arm of the technology giant has told all customers who use a Galaxy Note7 smartphone to turn off their device, return it to its place of purchase and use another phone until a remedy can be provided. According to the company, customers who have purchased a Galaxy Note7 from Samsung are entitled to choose a new Galaxy Note7 (and a courtesy device until replacement Galaxy Note7 stock arrives) or a full refund. Richard Fink, Vice President IT & Mobile, Samsung Electronics Australia said the delivery of a replacement Galaxy Note7 to customers is expected within three to four weeks. “The safety and ongoing satisfaction of our customers is our top priority. We know our Galaxy Note7 customers are our most loyal customers and we are taking a proactive approach to support them,” Mr Fink said. “We are asking customers to contact Samsung or their place of purchase to arrange a suitable courtesy smartphone or refund. Courtesy devices will become available from this Wednesday (September 7, 2016).” Australian Manufacturing

Volvo & Autoliv set up joint venture for autonomous driving Volvo Cars and Autoliv Inc have agreed to set up a new jointly-owned company to develop next generation autonomous driving software. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1dh34iR Headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, the new company will have an initial workforce of around 200, increasing to over 600 in the medium term. The yet-to-be-named company will develop advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous drive (AD) systems for use in Volvo cars and for sale exclusively by Autoliv to all car makers globally, with revenues shared by both companies. Volvo is renowned for manufacturing some of the world’s safest cars and for inventing the three point safety belt, which is believed to have saved over one million lives since the company waived its patent rights to other car manufacturers. In keeping with its reputation for pioneering safety innovations, Volvo has devised a medium term vision that envisions zero casualties and injuries in a new Volvo by 2020. Autoliv is the world’s leading supplier of safety systems to car makers around the globe and is responsible for the development and introduction of active and passive safety technologies to the world’s leading car makers for more than 60 years. Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars, said the joint venture will bring together two global leaders in automotive safety, underlining the contribution ADAS and AD can make to road safety and speeding the development and introduction of fully autonomous cars. “By combining our know how and resources we will create a world leader in AD software development. This means we can introduce this exciting technology to our customers faster,” Mr Samuelsson stated. Jan Carlson, Chairman, Chief Executive and President of Autoliv, said the joint venture marks the first time a leading premium car maker has joined forces with a tier one supplier to develop new ADAS and AD technologies. “There are no two companies that can claim to have done more for automotive safety worldwide than Autoliv and Volvo,” Mr Carlson added. “This new company is a recognition of the fact that autonomous driving is the next step to transform road safety.” According to the press release by Volvo, both JV partners will licence and transfer the intellectual property for their ADAS systems to the joint venture. “From this base the company will develop new ADAS technologies and AD systems. It expects to have its first ADAS products available for sale by 2019 with AD technologies available by 2021,” reads the press release. “Autoliv will be the exclusive supplier and distribution channel for all the new company’s products towards third parties, except Volvo Cars which will source directly from the new company. Its management will comprise of representatives from Autoliv and Volvo Cars.” The new company is expected to start operations in the beginning of 2017. Australian Manufacturing

Deakin University & RCR develop robotics-driven target system for safer defence training Deakin University has struck a partnership agreement with RCR for the development of a world-class robotics-driven target system to be used by armed forces in training to improve their accuracy. Image credit: Deakin University Facebook page Dubbed the OzBot Raider, this relatively low-cost system allows a wide variety of targets, including simulated thermal or acoustic payloads, or panels lined with high-tech coatings, and can be configured on a graded track and deployed within an hour to a new location. On-board sensors allow the speed and location of the target to be monitored or adjusted in real time, while high-definition cameras mounted on both the tug and trailer provide operators with real-time view of the down-range operations and allow targeting accuracy to be assessed during or at the end of each run. The system, which is battery powered with spare packs able to be charged from a standard power outlet or small generator, can operate in GPS-denied areas, offers low heat generation and, thanks to its modular design, allows for quick and easy in-field servicing. The unmanned tug-operated unit uses a high-torque, high speed DC electric motor and it will follow any straight, graded path as defined by the guide cable while on-board sensors accurately monitor key system parameters and can automatically slow or halt the system if an error is detected. Professor Nahavandi, the Director of Deakin’s Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), said the target-trailer connects to the tug via a 360° rotating hitch, which allows the trailer to naturally swing around and follow the tug each time the tug changes direction. He said the unique design allows the tug to perform continuous runs back and forth without human intervention. “The OzBot Raider will enable armed forces to undertake validation and compliance testing of weapons without risk to personnel or any compromise in scenario realism,” Professor Nahavandi remarked. “This is a globally unique system that has potential to improve weapon accuracy, which will translate to increased effectiveness.” RCR CEO Dr Paul Dalgleish said the system is currently undergoing field trials and is expected to achieve full readiness in coming weeks. “RCR has the financial, marketing and manufacturing capacity to work with Deakin University to take these robotic target systems to the defence marketplace,” Dr Dalgleish added. “RCR is proud to be a high-tech Australian engineering firm which designs and manufactures equipment locally. We train and employ our own people to be highly skilled to produce world class equipment, so Target Bot and Oz Bot are exactly the sort or innovative products we are targeting. The OzBot Raider will be presented to the Australian Army next month. Australian Manufacturing

Pact Group set to acquire specialty co-manufacturer APM Packaging company Pact Group has struck a $90 million agreement to acquire specialty co-manufacturer Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (APM), subject to customary conditions. Image credit: pactgroup.com.au APM, which was established in 2002, is one of the largest providers of manufacturing and packaging services for nutraceuticals in Australia with significant industry experience and long term relationships with leading participants in the health and wellness sector. The company’s manufacturing facilities are equipped with cutting edge technology to deliver tableting, encapsulation and packaging solutions and a range of therapeutic nutraceutical products including vitamin and mineral supplements, herbal remedies, amino acids and other specialised formulations. Pact Group’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Bundey said the acquisition, to be funded by $75 million of bank debt and a share issue of $15 million, formed an important part of the company’s strategy to expand in specialised co-manufacturing. He said the move would complement and extend Pact’s existing position established through the successful acquisition of Jalco in September 2015. “The acquisition of APM is strongly aligned with our growth strategy and is expected to add significant value to Pact. APM operates in a very attractive sector which is experiencing robust growth in demand both domestically and in export markets,” Mr Bundey added. “APM’s product and service portfolio complements and enhances our established position in co-manufacturing and our broader specialty packaging business. There is significant overlap in our customer portfolios. This acquisition enables us to expand our service offering and deepen our customer relationships. We are very excited about the growth opportunities this acquisition provides Pact and look forward to welcoming the APM team to the Group.” The transaction is expected to be finalised on 16 September 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Amcor buys Sonoco’s blow moulding operations in North America Amcor has reached a US$280 million (approximately A$ 369,000,000) agreement to acquire the North American rigid plastics blow moulding operations of Sonoco Products Company, a global packaging firm based in the United States. Image credit: Amcor webpage Sonoco Products owns six production sites across the US and one in Canada, generating annual sales of approximately US$210 million (A$ 276million). Amcor CEO and Managing Director Ron Delia said the acquisition will enhance the company’s product offering by adding complementary capabilities and technologies, including more extensive extrusion blow moulding and injection technologies, expertise in producing polyethylene, polypropylene and multi-layer containers, as well as additional decorating capabilities. According to him, the move will also deliver substantial operational synergies of approximately US20 million (A$26 million) and add a total of US$50 million of PBIT (A$66 million) to Amcor’s Rigid Plastics segment at the end of the third full year of ownership (FY2020). “The Amcor Rigid Plastics business has significant growth opportunities, including in segments outside of the traditional non-alcoholic beverage markets,” Mr Delia added. “Part of our strategy to grow this business includes acquiring specialised manufacturing capabilities which unlock further growth in key segments.” The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals in the United States. Australian Manufacturing

Woodside to acquire 50% of BHP Billiton’s interest in the Scarborough area gas fields Woodside has agreed to acquire half of BHP Billiton’s area assets in the Carnarvon Basin, located offshore Western Australia. Image credit: Woodside Facebook page The Australian petroleum exploration and production company said the acquisition includes a 25% interest in WA-1-R (BHP Billiton 50% share, ExxonMobil 50% share) and 50% interest in WA-62- R (BHP Billiton 100% share), which together contain the Scarborough gas filed. Additionally, the company will acquire a half of BHP’s interest in WA-61-R (BHP Billiton 100% share) and WA-63-R (BHP Billiton 100% share) which contain the Jupiter and Thebe gas field. Under the agreement, Woodside will pay BHP an initial US$250 million and a further US$150 million payable upon a positive investment decision to develop the Scarborough gas field. Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said the addition of Carnarvon Basin Volumes to the Australian portfolio would complement the company’s growth strategy and leverage its deep water and LNG capabilities. “We look forward to working with ExxonMobil and BHP Billiton following of the transaction to progress commercialization of these world-class resources,” Mr Coleman added. BHP Billiton President Operations, Petroleum, Steve Pastor said the company considers the proposed sale to Woodside to be “a positive outcome for all parties”. “Woodside is a strong partner with substantial LNG experience in Western Australia, and we believe they will contribute positively to the future development of the Scarborough resources,” Mr Pastor stated. The Scarborough area assets include the Scarborough, thebe and Jupiter fields, which are estimated to contain gross 8.7 trillion cubic feet of as resource at the 2C confidence level. According to Woodside, its net share of the resources is estimated to e 2.6 trillion cubic feet of gas. Under the proposed transaction – subject to a number of conditions precedent including joint partner pre-emption rights and regulatory approvals – ExxonMobil will remain operator of Scarborough, with operatorship of North Scarborough to be transferred from BHP Billiton to Woodside. Completion is expected by the end of the 2016 calendar year. Australian Manufacturing

ABB unveils cutting edge factory in India to double its solar inverter manufacturing output ABB India, a subsidiary of global technology firm ABB, has inaugurated a new solar inverter manufacturing facility in Bengaluru which will double the company’s capacity in the country. Image credit: www.abb.com The facility, which stretches over 17 acres of land, was inaugurated by Robert Itschner, Managing Director for ABB’s Power Conversion business unit and Sanjeev Sharma, CEO and Managing Director, ABB in India. “India is one of the world’s fastest growing solar markets, and ABB has been steadily expanding its solar inverter manufacturing facilities in India over the years,” Mr Itschner said. “We are proud of this new state-of-the-art factory which will help us to serve the market even better and which is testimony to our long-term commitment to India.“ The expansion follows the company’s recent achievement in India which saw ABB become the first company to double the solar inverter installed base to 2 GW in a span of five months. The Bengaluru site manufactures ABB’s PVS800 central inverter series, which will help power 40% of the utility-scale solar power generated in the country. These inverters enjoy great popularity in India because of their ease of commissioning and reliable performance in harsh climate conditions. “ABB, a global leader in solar inverter technology, has also been powering solar projects across the country spanning the entire solar photovoltaic (PV) value chain, a key component of which has been our solar inverter technology, made in India,” said Sanjeev Sharma. “The government’s vision has provided the required catalyst and focus for clean energy and ABB is proud to partner this journey. This expansion reaffirms our commitment, innovation to cater to country-specific solutions and enhances our manufacturing presence of sixty years.” ABB solar inverters range from 2 kW to 2 MW and are optimised for residential rooftop usage as well as cost-efficient multi-megawatt power plants. Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems inks deal with Australian Government for Future Frigate Program BAE Systems has announced that it has signed an agreement with the Australian Government regarding the update of its Type 26 Global Combat Ship, as part of the Australian naval force’s SEA 5000 Future Frigate program. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2cfFfgu According to the official announcement, the company will send its Australia-bases engineer tam in the UK where they will collaborate with their UK counterparts on the new design for the combat ship. Further, BAE revealed that a 3-dimensional visualisation suite will be delivered to Australia to help improve understanding of the unique features of the ship design. “We look forward to demonstrating the adaptability and maturity of the Global Combat Ship design to meet Australia’s requirements for an Anti-Submarine Warship frigate,“ said BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive, Glynn Phillips. “The Global Combat Ship design is the most modern, adaptable and flexible of all possible options available today, and I am confident that we will be able to demonstrate that it is the best able to meet the requirements of the Royal Australian Navy.” Fincantieri and Navantia have also signed similar agreements to participate in the Competitive Evaluation Process for the Future Frigates Programme – SEA 5000. “We are fully committed to this programme, which represents one of the most important naval surface shipbuilding projects in the world. This is the first ever contract signed by Fincantieri with the Australian Department of Defence and we are very excited by the opportunity to participate in the evaluation process and to propose the very best of the Italian shipbuilding design and construction,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “We hope that this will be only the first step in this important programme, in which our company would be able to put its wealth of experience, know-how, capabilities and transfer of technology at the service of the Australian Government and its Navy.” Navantia dubbed its participation in the program as a significant milestone for the future of company in Australia. “This program has the potential to allow for the development of Navantia Australia’s local capabilities and its Operations and Design Centre, which will actively participate in this design phase,” Navantia said in a press release. Australian Manufacturing

Irish researchers develop new process for 3D printing bone tissue Irish researchers at AMBER, the Science Foundation Ireland funded materials science centre, hosted in Trinity College Dublin, have developed a new method for 3D printing large and complex bone structures. Image credit: Screenshot from the AMBER Centre Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWBa8OWgApM&feature=youtu.be) This new 3D printing technique could be the key to regenerating and repairing large defects caused by tumour resections, infections, trauma, as well as inherited bone deformities. This novel bio printing method will also have a myriad of applications in head, jaw and spine surgery, as well as hip and knee replacements. In other words, the new process could eliminate the need for bone grafts and it consists of using 3D bio printing technology to fabricate cartilage templates which have been shown to assist the growth of a complete bone organ. “This is new approach to tissue and organ engineering and we’re very excited. 3D bio printing is a rapidly expanding area in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. While the technology has already been used to engineer relatively simple tissues such as skin, blood vessels and cartilage, engineering more complex and vascularised solid organs, such as bone, is well beyond the capabilities of currently available bio printing technologies,” said Professor Daniel Kelly, Investigator at AMBER and Director of the Trinity College Centre for Bioengineering. “Our research offers real hope in the future for patients with complex bone trauma or large defects following removal of a tumour. In addition, this bio printing approach could also be used in the development of the next generation of biological implants for knee and hip replacements. Our next stage of this process is to aim to treat large bone defects and then integrate the technology into a novel strategy to bio print new knees.” Click here to read the full paper on this amazing novel 3D bio printing technique. Check out the short video below. Australian Manufacturing

New Siemens study outlines strategy to help Adelaide become world’s first carbon neutral city Siemens has released a new study which details the pathways to transforming Adelaide into the world’s first carbon neutral city. Image credit: corporate.siemens.com.au The report, which was conducted with Siemens’ proprietary City Performance Tool, outlines several key points that will support Adelaide’s transition to a zero net emissions economy. It states that coordinated action by the city and state can yield deep cuts in emissions. “Investments in the building, transport and energy sectors can help Adelaide reduce CO2 emissions by a further 56% by 2025 compared to a business as usual scenario,” reads the report. “Local and State level governments both influence these sectors and must therefore continue to coordinate their efforts in investing or incentivising technology implementation in order to benefit from these potential savings.” It also recommends more robust decarbonisation policy spanning energy, buildings and transport. “Although investments in renewable energy in the State have been unprecedented, building floor area growth and hence energy demand in the City of Adelaide have offset some of the emission reductions arising from decarbonisation of the city’s electricity supply,” it says in the study. “Whilst the recent closure of the state’s last coal-fired power station and future large scale renewable investments will further drive down electricity intensity, city and state governments must influence the energy performance and solar installations of buildings and drive a mobility future based on heavy investment in low emission vehicles and increasing shifts to public transit.” The report identifies the commercial sector as largest source of emissions in Adelaide and one the city and state governments can most directly influence and regulate. “With new programmes such as the introduction of Building Upgrade Finance being rolled out in 2017, the city can benefit from over 15% savings in buildings related emissions through just five building technologies modelled in this study,” read the study. “These same building technologies can deliver over 60% savings of buildings related emissions based on a scenario with heavier investments to further clean the electricity mix.” Siemens said the study modelled potential savings in the transport sector based on two scenarios, the first of which focuses on public transport and the second on low emission vehicles. “The first, a mobility future based on low emission vehicles with medium public transport investment delivering 47% savings in transport related emissions,” it says in the study. “The second, a future with higher public transport / lower uptake of low emission vehicles, delivering over 38% savings in transport related emissions.” According to the study, the implementation of the above mentioned measures could lead to the creation of thousands of jobs in Adelaide. “By cutting emissions by as much as 56% over the next decade, the City of Adelaide can also contribute to the state’s transition to a low carbon economy,” the report states. “Our report has calculated a large gross employment benefit of nearly 23,000 full time equivalent jobs in installation, operation and maintenance jobs in low carbon energy, public transport mobility and buildings systems spread over the next decade in the Greater Adelaide area.” The study was conducted using Siemens’ proprietary City Performance Tool, which provides city managers and planners a unique view of their city and helps identify areas of greatest need and effectiveness for better resource allocation. The tool analysed over 700 data inputs from transport, energy and building sectors and over 70 technologies currently in use in the city to accurately forecast the impact of urban infrastructure technologies. “Siemens has a long and proud history in South Australia. We helped transform South Australia with the telegraph line 144 years ago. We’ve continued a great technology partnership and now we’re proud to help Adelaide transition to the world’s first carbon neutral city,” said Mr Roland Busch, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. “Adelaide joins leading cities such as San Francisco, Vienna, Copenhagen, and London in adopting a holistic approach for prioritising future infrastructure needs based on its long-term economic and environmental goals.” Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa and Alumina Limited announce changes to AWAC Joint Venture Alcoa and Alumina Limited have agreed to make changes to the Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) joint venture that will increase value for the two companies and their respective shareholders. Image credit: Alcoa Twitter page Alcoa said the JV partners have agreed to end their legal action relating to its pending separation into two independent, publicly traded companies. According to the company, the changes to the joint venture agreements are intended to “align more closely the partners’ interests in AWAC”, while establishing greater strategic flexibility and autonomy for both partners. The changes, to be effectuated upon the completion of Alcoa’s separation, will affect the governance and financial policies of the joint venture and promote faster decision-making, joint input on significant decisions, improved information sharing and a more streamlined process for resolving disputes. They will also simplify AWAC’s dividend and cash management policies and require that AWAC raise a limited amount of debt to fund future mutually agreed growth projects. Under the amendments to the AWAC Joint Venture, in the event of a change of control of either partner in the future, opportunities for the AWAC partners to engage in expansion and development projects would increase, with each partner having the right to proceed unilaterally with an expansion or development project inside the joint venture if the other partner chooses not to participate. “A partner that avails itself of such an opportunity would pay for the costs related to the project, including for AWAC resources and shared facilities used, and be entitled to that project’s resulting off-take,” Alcoa said in a press release. “In addition, upon a change of control, the exclusivity and non-compete restrictions under the current joint venture agreements would terminate, and be replaced by rights of first offer on expansions and other development projects that either party may choose to undertake outside of the joint venture.” Further, if a change of control of Alumina were to occur in the future, off-take rights for alumina and bauxite would be triggered. “For example, if an industrial acquirer became the new partner in AWAC it would be entitled to buy alumina and bauxite at market prices for that partner’s internal consumption,” reads the press release. “In addition, that future partner would also be entitled to buy 1 million tons of alumina at market prices for resale into the market. This could have the effect of establishing a strategic joint venture partner and long-term customer for AWAC.” Roy Harvey, President of Alcoa’s Global Primary Products and future CEO of Alcoa, said the changes create a true win-win situation for the AWAC joint venture, the future Alcoa Corporation, and its shareholders, “We are strengthening our partnership agreement and more closely aligning the partners’ interests. We are also establishing a broader set of value-creating options for AWAC by providing its owners with greater strategic flexibility,” Mr Harvey said. “Among other benefits, this opens the door for an industrial partner to enter the joint venture, and like Alcoa, to become a long term customer for bauxite and alumina. Alcoa looks forward to completing our separation, launching two strong companies later this year, and to working closely with Alumina to realise the full potential of the AWAC partnership.” Australian Manufacturing

Bottom-up innovation program sees Volgren build better bus body in half the time The influx of cheap overseas imports has always been one of the biggest challenges facing Australian manufacturers, who work in a high cost environment and therefore must find other ways to drive costs down to remain competitive on the international market. Image provided Victorian bus body manufacturer Volgren is a good example of how an Australian company can cope with these challenges by thinking outside the box and getting creative. Faced with the prospect of a five-fold increase in bus imports into the country, the once-family owned manufacturer set the goal of halving the time to manufacture a bus body, while challenging employees to improve the overall safety, quality and delivery of their buses. Volgren CEO, Peter Dale, who led the bottom-up innovation program, said the company not only needed to become more productive, but also to completely rethink the end product in order to stay afloat. “Five years ago, it took us 1,000 hours to produce a bus body. We could see that without dramatic changes we were going to be squeezed out of the market,” Mr Dale said. “We set the target of building a bus body in ten days, or 500 hours, which at the time was hard for employees to conceive. But training people at all levels of the business to question process efficiency and to look for opportunities to save time or costs meant we were able to achieve the goal in just four years.” The finished product, called the Optimus bus, was designed in collaboration with Monash University. Composed out of an aluminium frame with Volgren’s unique Co-BOLT technology, the bus is not only lighter, stronger and safer than steel-framed buses, but it also reduces lifetime costs by about $100,000. Volgren, which has manufacturing plants in Victoria, Western Australia and Brisbane, is responsible for close to two in every three route buses sold in Australia and builds roughly 10 bus bodies a week. “Looking at a bus operator’s bottom line, it’s not about price, it’s about the lowest cost of total ownership,” Mr Dale said. “Our strategy is about producing safe, high-quality buses with the lowest whole-of-life costs, reducing the need for constant bus repairs and improving regular maintenance.” He said the company was backed by its majority owner, Marcopolo, to boost overseas exports of Australian-built bus bodies and bus kits into Asia. “We see enormous potential throughout Asia and with the backing of Marcopolo we’re in great position to get more involved in global markets and value chains,” Mr Dale added. “The interest we’ve had so far says a lot about the quality and compatibility of Volgren buses and Australia’s reputation and competitiveness within the broader bus building industry,” Dale said. Australian Manufacturing

Australian PMI®: Australian manufacturing slips to contraction after 13 months Australia’s manufacturing sector slumped in August for the first time in 13-months, breaking its longest period of continued growth in more than a decade. Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos The Australia Industry Group (AiG) performance of manufacturing index (PMI) recorded a sharp decline to 46.9 in August after surging to 56.4 in July. According to Ai Group’s report, six of the seven manufacturing activity sub-indexes contracted in August, with production (down 9.4 points to 43.0), employment (down 11.9 points to 44.6), exports (down 14.8 points to 44.7), deliveries (down 16.4 points to 46.2) and sales (down 14.1 points to 45.7) all slipping from expansionary results in July. Food, beverages & tobacco (down 4.0 points to 48.7) joined textiles & clothing (down 1.8 points to 46.3) below the 50 points mark – which separates expansion from contraction – whereas new orders continued to grow in August, albeit at a slower pace (down 7.3 points to 51.5) than in July. The good news is that five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors remained in expansion including printing & recorded media (up 6.4 points to 63.6), metal products (up 1.1 points to 55.9), petroleum & chemical products (down 2.5 points to 54.8), non-metallic mineral products (down 3.3 points to 53.6) and wood & paper products (down 7.6 points to 52.0). Additionally, the input prices (down 0.3 points to 58.7) and wages (down 3.5 points to 56.2) sub-indexes remained strong, while selling prices reversed slipped by 4.4 points to 50.3. “At 46.9 the August result for the Australian PMI® is the lowest since June 2015 when it was 44.2 points. These low results ‘bookend’ a run of 13 months of expansion (July 2015 to July 2016 inclusive). A sharp fall in food & beverages in August, which had been the mainstay of recent growth, was a major factor in the correction seen in manufacturing activity. Conditions also deteriorated for manufacturers of non-metallic mineral products and the recent growth spurt in the metals products sub-sector came to an end,” said Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox. “For manufacturing as a whole, despite gains in a number of other sub-sectors, production, sales, employment and stocks all fell in August. Continued growth in new orders is a ray of optimism for a sector keen to avoid this correction becoming a downturn. The continuing patchiness both of the manufacturing sector and the broader economy underscores the importance of lifting confidence and improving policy settings in areas such as workplace relations, taxation and budgetary policy.” Australian Manufacturing

ARENA funding cuts will stifle clean technologies development, Minister says South Australian Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis has called on the Federal Parliament to prevent cuts to ARENA funding proposed as part of the Federal Government’s Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016. Image credit: http://arena.gov.au/ Commenting on the matter, the Minister said that cutting ARENA’s funds would “stifle innovation” in the development of clean technologies and inhibit the country’s transition to a stable, carbon constrained National Electricity Market. “These are dangerous and frankly perplexing cuts from the Federal Government at a time when the nation is working hard to combine climate and energy policy and incentivise technological breakthrough in electricity generation,” Mr Koutsantonis said. “By cutting this funding the Federal Government will entrench existing generation technology and stifle advances in dispatchable renewable energy that Australia needs if it is to meet its carbon reduction commitments.” The Minister underlined ARENA’s importance in pushing innovation in the clean energy sector, adding that replacing grant funding with a loan scheme research and development of new technologies would be “too risky for proponents to pursue”. “ARENA also helps creates investment and jobs in this growing industry around Australia, and particularly in the North of South Australia,” Mr Koutsantonis added. “ARENA’s $1.3 billion in funds are an essential part of the solution to meeting Australia’s climate commitments and delivering a more stable National Energy Market as it transitions to a renewable future.” Australian Manufacturing

Creating synthetic wood manufacturing industry through 3D bio-printing Associate Professor David Leung from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand has been awarded Government funding to investigate the potential of 3D printing live plant cells for creating synthetic wood. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2cu3GKd The $255,000 funding – to be delivered over three years – will help Professor Leung create new synthetic wood manufacturing industry through 3D bio-printing live plant cells that could greatly reduce the need for tree harvesting. Professor Leung said his project – Enabling sustainable economic development with advanced additive manufacturing of wood – could unlock enormous economic potential in harnessing the enabling 3D-printing technology in product manufacturing. “Although challenging, there is potential to use live cells as an advanced manufacturing material in a yet-to-be invented, new industry,” Mr Leung said. He said the project’s main objective was to manufacture a non-living 3D structure that would act as replacement for wood and put an end to the destructive harvesting of trees. “Live eucalyptus tree cells will be prepared specifically for bio-printing. They will be physiologically primed in a 3D structure in the biotech lab at the University of Canterbury, without any genetic modification, to be capable of responding to the appropriate triggers for transformation into a principal wood cell called a tracheid,” Professor Leung explained. “The changes in the cells will be studied in relation to the characteristic morphological features and chemical properties of tracheids using various microscopic, histochemical staining and fluorescence techniques.” If successful, the research will be one of the most significant scientific advances towards the realisation of the potential of 3D printing, providing manufacturers with a new, sustainable and advanced biomaterial for developing niche products. Australian Manufacturing

TCI New Zealand embraces automation to maintain competitive edge New Zealand’s geographic isolation and high labour costs compel manufacturers to embrace innovation and automation in their production processes to compete with international players. Image provided Faced with these challenges, Auckland-based injection moulding company TCI New Zealand (TCI) turned to Universal Robots to provide an automated solution that would offer a more cost-effective means of producing its customer’s products. TCI deployed two of Universal Robots’ industrial robotic arms, the UR3 and UR5 to perform labelling and assembly tasks for the company’s EasiYo Yoghurt Maker line, as well as its storage bins, thus relieving employees of repetitive assembly processes and ensuring smooth production flow. “Previously we were paying two employees to work in 12 hour shifts to ensure around-the- clock production of our EasiYo Yoghurt Maker,” said Quintin Fowler, Manager Director at TCI. “If one employee didn’t turn up for work it meant the entire production line would be halted. This wasn’t really financially sustainable for us so we were looking for an automated solution that would guarantee quality assurance and help us to reduce costs.” The UR3, which is a compact table-top robot capable of handling payloads up to three kilograms, was the first machine to be deployed by TCI, with the costs of the robot recouped six months after it was first purchased. This robot has a reach radius of up to 500mm and features 360-degree rotation on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint. The rapid return on investment on UR3 encouraged TCI to purchase the UR5, which helps manufacturers automate repetitive and dangerous tasks with payloads up to five kilograms and a reach radius of up to 850mm. The UR5 is suitable for collaborative processes such as picking, placing and testing, with the payback period expected to be less than one year. “We paid off the UR3 within 6 months, which means we can reinvest in further product development and innovation. We also saved around 75 percent on yearly product assembly labour costs for the UR3 and UR5,” said Mr Fowler. “The UR3 and UR5 are very flexible robots. They are very easy to reprogram, which is why we use the UR5 to help assemble all of our storage bins. The robot can be reset to perform different jobs depending on the size of the bin.” On top of delivering swift return on investment and massive cost-reduction, Universal Robots’ small and lightweight robotic arms also increased productivity and worker safety. The robots’ force limit safety feature automatically stops the robot from operating when its movement is obstructed. “One thing I loved about Universal Robots was that we didn’t have to worry about guarding,” Mr Fowler added. “Whereas a lot of the other robots in the market guarding was an issue because you’d have to use safety barriers for all the machines which just complicates the situation.” TCI, which is one of the largest privately owned plastic injection moulding companies in New Zealand, manufactures a vast array of products, including building products, components used in instrumentation, navigation, rescue and communications, as well as a range of retail products, including homewares, garden products and outdoor furniture for companies across New Zealand and the rest of the world. Australian Manufacturing

PACIA: Victorian onshore gas bans terrible for manufacturing and investment Victoria’s decision to enforce permanent ban on fracking and coal seam gas exploration was labelled as a “major blow” to manufacturing and investment by the Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA). Image credit: http://ift.tt/2crA8Ns Commenting on the decision, PACIA CEO Samantha Read said on Tuesday that the ban will inflict a devastating blow on Victoria’s economy. “We are extremely frustrated by today’s announcement,” Ms Read said. “This will drive away Australian companies and multinationals that are making decisions, both now and in the future, on where to invest their capital, build infrastructure and create new skilled employment.” Mr Read called on the state government to elaborate on its explanation that it was using best available evidence to make this decision, as it is contradicted by data presented in the Deloitte Access Economics Gas Market Transformations Report. “In this Report, it is estimated that the Victorian economy would be hit with a $24 billion loss in manufacturing output and 1,500 jobs lost between 2014 and 2021 as a result of gas supply tightness and price increases,” she said. According to her, the ban will slug manufacturing, households and the broader economy with further unnecessary burden and cost increases. “And importantly, the State’s various industries and sectors do not operate in isolation. There is a complex interplay between gas supply, manufacturing and agriculture,” Ms Read added. “For example, Victoria’s agricultural industry relies on inputs from the chemistry industry which are integral to the entire food value chain, from soil preparation and irrigation, to food processing, packaging, transportation and distribution. Many of these inputs are created using gas as a feedstock.” She said the moratoria will place “ongoing upward price pressure” on these inputs, making all Victorian manufacturing sectors, including agriculture, less competitive. “Today’s decision is particularly disappointing coming just a week after the COAG Energy Council meeting, where it was noted that a case by case approach is needed to bring on more supply,” Ms Read continued, adding that secure and affordable gas supply is fundamental to Victoria’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. “This is based on final reports and recommendations made by both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Energy Market Commission. The meeting also noted that moratoria were part of the gas supply problem. Victoria is now the only jurisdiction not to have adopted the COAG Energy Council recommendations.” Australian Manufacturing

Toyota to continue as AFL’s premier sponsor until 2019 Toyota has announced a 3-year extension to its sponsorship agreement with the Australian Football League which will see the car maker rack up a total of 16 consecutive years as the AFL’s premier partner. Image credit: www.toyota.com The sponsorship extension, which ranks among the biggest sponsorship deals in Australian sport, was jointly announced by Toyota president Dave Buttner and AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan at the official launch of the 2016 Toyota AFL Finals Series. Mr Buttner said the new arrangement, from 2017-19, would allow for continued development of the game from local clubs to the elite national competition. “Toyota and its dealers throughout Australia are proud to be part of the AFL family and to extend our commitment to growing this great game and supporting footy wherever it is played,” Mr Buttner said. “This is a valued partnership because both Toyota and the AFL are driven to succeed through inspiration, passion and dedication,” he said. AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said AFL‘s decision to extend its sponsorship agreement with Toyota was an “easy one for the league”. “Toyota is a highly successful values-driven organisation that is determined to be the best and has been a fantastic partner for the AFL in our efforts to grow our game,” Mr McLachlan added. “Dave is a football person who understands our sport intimately and the strong relationship between our organisations flows directly down from him, where his word and his company’s words stand for something and are always followed through by strong action. Our partnership has been great for Australian football and for Toyota and we hope to work together long into the future.” Mr Buttner said the Good for Footy program formed a vital part of Toyota’s ongoing sponsorship, focusing on the community clubs that are the breeding ground of future champions. According to him, the program has raised more than $3 million for grassroots football. “This year, the Toyota Good for Footy raffle raised a record $574,305 to support local clubs with better facilities and equipment – and we are planning to break the record next year,” he added. Apart from being AFL’s premier partner, Toyota also supports Friday’s E. J. Whitten Legends Game and the Toyota Legendary Moments series that features memorable moments involving some of the game’s greatest players. In addition to these sponsorship deals, the company recently announced that it has extended its long-standing sponsorship of the Adelaide Crows until at least the end of the 2019 AFL season, making it one of the most enduring sponsorships in Australian sport. Toyota, which enlists prominent current and past players as ambassadors, including Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge and 2014 Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, also supports Cricket Australia and the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams. Australian Manufacturing

Resolute Mining to pay dividends in gold Resolute Mining Limited has announced a dividend of 1.7c per share following the adoption of an innovative gold sales-linked dividend policy which allows shareholders to receive dividend payments in gold. L to R – John Welborn and Richard Hayes – Resolute Dividend Payment in Perth Mint GoldImage provided The new dividend policy, forged in partnership The Perth Mint, provides Resolute shareholders who hold 5,000 or more company shares with the opportunity to elect to be paid in gold via a personal account held with The Perth Mint. Commenting on the adoption of this unique dividend policy, Resolute’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr John Welborn said this account will allow shareholders to securely store and accumulate Resolute gold dividends, buy and sell gold and other precious metals, and convert gold balances into a range of bars and coins subject to the terms and conditions of The Perth Mint Depository Online program. “The 2016 financial year has been transformational for Resolute with the generation of a record profit of A$213 million, a stunning turnaround in the strength of the Company’s balance sheet, and the completion of a number of key studies designed to ensure long term profitable gold production,” he said. “Resolute’s new gold sales-linked dividend policy rewards our shareholders by providing a sustainable income stream that allows direct participation in our ongoing production success. Having generated sales of more than 7 million ounces of gold from over 25 years of continuous production, and with over 14 million ounces of gold in Reserves and Resources at our existing projects, Resolute shareholders will now be rewarded with a dividend based on a fixed proportion of future revenue from our gold production.” The Perth Mint operates the only government guaranteed investment and storage program in the world and has been offering private precious metal storage options for investors since 1999. Perth Mint CEO, Mr Richard Hayes said this service now includes an innovative and modern platform which allows investors to hold and trade precious metals online. “The Perth Mint ardently supports Resolute’s bold and unique initiative to be the first gold miner we have worked with to pay its shareholders their dividends in gold. Innovation is a key driver in our business and we are delighted to partner with one of our most successful long term clients to provide them with these facilities,” he concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Evergen launches smart home energy management system Renewable energy start-up Evergen has taken advantage of CSIRO’s battery technology research to deliver Australia’s first intelligent home energy management system. Image credit: www.evergen.com.au The system, which is remotely managed by Evergen and regularly analysed and updated by CSIRO, combines the intelligent energy management developed by CSIRO with solar panels and batteries to continuously analyse and optimise home energy use. It looks at the local weather and power consumption patterns of each household to make smart decisions that reduce energy costs, such as switching from solar to stored power and vice versa, depending on the circumstances. CSIRO Energy Director Dr Peter Mayfield said he was pleased to see this CSIRO-developed technology available in Australian homes. “CSIRO has been at the forefront of solar and battery technology research for many years, and we are committed to the development of intelligent systems and tools which change the way we use energy,” Dr Mayfield added. “We know that consumers are viewing their household electricity differently and taking more control; intelligent systems allow them to do this with ease.” Evergen Chairman Stephen Dunne described the system as” the gateway to energy-smart homes of the future”. “We’re excited to be taking the science of CSIRO and building it in to an energy system that will benefit families all over Australia,” he said. According to the press release by CSIRO, the Evergen system is now available to Australians in an early release program, with a second-stage release program in January 2017. Australian Manufacturing

World’s largest 3D printed object to help make the wings of Boeing’s 777X airliner Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Boeing have developed a 3D printed trim-and-drill tool which won the title of largest solid 3D printed item by Guinness World Record. Image credit: www.ornl.gov Composed of carbon fibre and ABS thermoplastic composite materials, ORNL’s lower cost trim took just 30 hours to print and is now set to be evaluated in building the Boeing 777X passenger jet. According to the Laboratory, the 748kg tool is 5.3 metres long, 1.6 metres wide and 0.46 metres tall, which makes it comparable in length to a large sport utility vehicle. To be certified as a new record, the tool had to be in one solid piece of 0.3cubic metres, which was confirmed by a Guinness World Records judge at an award ceremony held at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL, where the item was 3D printed on the Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine. “The recognition by Guinness World Records draws attention to the advances we’re making in large-scale additive manufacturing composites research,” said Vlastimil Kunc, leader of ORNL’s polymer materials development team. “Using 3D printing, we could design the tool with less material and without compromising its function.” Once ORNL finalises verification testing, Boeing will use the 3d printed trim-and-drill tool in its new production facility in St Louis to secure the jet’s composite wing skin for drilling and machining before assembly. Leo Christodoulou, Boeing’s director of structures and materials said the company will provide information back to ORNL on the tool’s performance over the course of the project. “The existing, more expensive metallic tooling option we currently use comes from a supplier and typically takes three months to manufacture using conventional techniques,” Mr Christodoulou added. “Additively manufactured tools, such as the 777X wing trim tool, will save energy, time, labor and production cost and are part of our overall strategy to apply 3D printing technology in key production areas.” The project is supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), which supports applied research, development and demonstration of new materials and processes for energy efficiency in manufacturing as well as platform technologies for the manufacturing of clean energy products. Additionally, AMO also provides support for ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, a public-private partnership to engage industry with national labs. Australian Manufacturing

SA’s defence industry must earn its share of future defence contracts, Minister says South Australia’s defence industry and small business sector must “get organised and strategic” to land lucrative contracts on future defence contracts, according to Minister for Defence Industries Martin Hamilton-Smith. Image credit: www.asc.com.au Speaking ahead of the DefenceSA’s South Australian Industry Engagement Forum – which was held yesterday at Mawson Lakes – the Minister said the next 20-30 months will define how local industry can benefit from the next two to three decades. “Now is not the time to rest on our laurels. There is a significant body of work on the near, medium and far horizons for our state’s industries,” he said. “The Government is doing everything possible to maximise South Australian industry involvement in the programs. Our role is to support companies who are already in South Australia and encourage others to invest here.” Mr Hamilton-Smith said the next couple of years will signal the start of a massive shipbuilding undertaking in the country, which SA companies must capitalise on. Construction of the $3 billion Offshore Patrol Vessels – which will lead to 400-plus direct and 400 indirect jobs – starts at Techport in 2018, while the $30 billion Future Frigate program – expected to create approximately 2,000 direct jobs – is due to commence in Adelaide in 2020. The $50 billion Future Submarines project will commence in 2022. According to estimates, it will create 2900 direct jobs in South Australia, 1700 of which at ASC, 100 at DCNS office, 600 in supply chain and 500 jobs in combat system integration. “There’s every reason to be excited about these projects and plenty of opportunity to get involved in the supply chain. But the opportunities won’t just fall into the laps of firms; they’re going to have to compete for it. If we sit back and wait, we’ll miss out,” the Minister added. “I’m pushing the Commonwealth to ensure a continuous flow of defence work and have already issued a list of five key actions.” Australian Manufacturing

Victoria slaps permanent ban on fracking The Andrews Labor Government has imposed a permanent ban on the exploration and development of all onshore unconventional gas in Victoria, including hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and coal seam gas. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1oBNQfi Premier Andrews said the Government’s decision addressed Victorian farmers’ concerns about the environmental and health risks associated with fracking. He said the 2015 Parliamentary Inquiry into Onshore Unconventional Gas in Victoria, which largely received submissions opposed to onshore unconventional gas, showed that the risks involved “outweigh any potential benefits” to Victoria. “Our farmers produce some of the world’s cleanest and freshest food. We won’t put that at risk with fracking,” Mr Andrews said. “Victorians have made it clear that they don’t support fracking and that the health and environmental risks involved outweigh any potential benefits.” Minister for Resources Wade Noonan said activities such as gas storage, carbon storage research, accessing offshore resources and exploration and development for offshore gas will remain exempt as they are not covered by the current moratorium. He said the current moratorium on unconventional onshore gas exploration and development will stay in place until the legislation is passed by Parliament. “There has been a great deal of community concern and anxiety about onshore unconventional gas – this decision gets the balance right,“ the Minister added. “We have carefully considered the Parliamentary Inquiry’s key findings and recommendations, consulted widely and made our decision on the best available evidence.” The permanent legislative ban will be introduced to Parliament later this year. Australian Manufacturing

Industry Beans wins LIFT grant to create jobs for retrenched automotive workers Melbourne-based coffee manufacturer Industry Beans has received a $225,000 state government grant to boost its exports and create 20 new jobs for retrenched automotive workers. Image credit: industrybeans.com The company will use the funding to fit-out its 760sqm facility in Brunswick and purchase new production equipment to expand into large scale manufacturing. The funding – awarded under the $33 million Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT) – will also support the establishment of a revolutionary e-commerce platform, allowing users to access and trade high quality coffee from around the globe. Commenting on the grant award, Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said the new jobs will provide opportunities to transition retrenched automotive workers, as part of the Labor Government’s $46.5 million Towards Future Industries: Victoria’s Automotive Transition Plan. “The Andrews Labor Government is doing all we can to support the businesses, workers and communities affected by the closure of car manufacturing in Victoria,” the Minister added. “We know Melbourne’s north will be one of the communities hardest hit, this funding will help bring in new investment and new jobs for former auto workers in the area.” Australian Manufacturing

Quickstep delivers positive results in 2016 on the back of strong aerospace manufacturing performance Leading composite manufacturer Quickstep has announced a $50.1 million revenue for the financial year ended 30 June, an increase of 27% from the $39.5 million in the previous corresponding year. Image credit: http://ift.tt/23mddD6 The company’s Aerospace Manufacturing activities accounted for a 200% increase in earnings before interest, tax, research and development and significant items, which now stands at $4.0 million from $1.3 million in the prior year. “Quickstep’s Aerospace Manufacturing business performed profitably with sales of $49.2 million compared to $33.7 million in the prior period, an increase of 46% over the prior year,” said Quickstep CEO and Managing Director, Mr David Marino. Capital expenditure increased to $3.4 million to facilitate increased production of JSF components at Bankstown and to initiate automotive production at Waurn Ponds, while R&D expenditure rose to $3.5 from $2.1 million in the prior year due to the company’s focus on product development for aerospace and automotive clients. Quickstep has long-term agreements to manufacture components for the F-35 Lightning II JSF Program and to supply composite wing flaps for Lockheed Martin’s C-130J “Super Hercules” aircraft. The company is the sole supplier to Northrop Grumman for 21 JSF components including doors, panels, skins and other composite parts, and also the supplier of JSF vertical tail components for BAE Systems and Marand. In June 2016, Quickstep delivered the first of 700 vertical tail sets to be supplied over the next 14 years. “Delivery of the first sets of vertical tail components in the second half was a significant milestone that increases manufacturing throughput, and volume is anticipated to grow substantially in the next three years,” Mr Marino said. “C-130J manufacturing progressed well, fulfilling demand for additional spares, and we are in discussions to extend the program beyond 2019. We continue to pursue further aerospace manufacturing contracts with existing and new customers.” The group also made significant strides toward commercialising its technologies in FY16, including partnering with Ford Motor Company to deliver a global-first solution for under-bonnet composite air ducts. Additionally, quickstep began production of bonnet, side skirts and mud guards for Thales Australia’s Hawkei light protected vehicle, and also secured a sales contract with the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the country’s technology incubator for its growing carbon fibre composite materials industry. The company also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DCNS in June 2016, after the French shipbuilder was selected as the preferred international partner for the design of twelve submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. Mr Marino said the MoU signalled the company’s entry into the marine defence industry and participation in supply chain contracts for the SEA 1000 Future Submarine Program. David Marino commented: “We are encouraged by new contracts and are working on a number of collaborative projects which are expected to lead to further international sales. Our material science, process and engineering solutions have greatly improved production speed and component surface quality,” he added. “Carbon fibre is increasingly becoming a raw material of choice for aerospace and automotive companies with environmental regulation driving change as companies prioritise lighter vehicles that consume less fuel. Light, strong carbon fibre is helping to increase environmental efficiency, and the price of raw carbon fibre is decreasing.” Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra sells Wagga Wagga business to Blue River Group Fonterra Australia has agreed to sell its Wagga Wagga business to Blue River Group after the two parties successfully negotiated the signing of a Sale Agreement. Image credit: fonterra.com According to the co-operative, the sale includes the Wagga Wagga manufacturing site and the award winning Riverina Fresh brand. Fonterra Australia Managing Director René Dedoncker said the move will not jeopardise the jobs security of Wagga Wagga employees. “Divesting the Wagga Wagga business follows the divestment of non-core assets, including our yoghurt and dairy desserts business, our Bega shares and our stake in Dairy Technical Services, and allows us to focus and put all our energy into our core businesses of Ingredients, Consumer and Foodservice,” Mr Dedoncker added. In the last 12 months, the company commissioned a multi-million beverages plant in Cobden – creating over 50 local jobs – and commenced construction of a new state-of-the-art cheese plant in Stanhope which is on track for completion mid-2017. Additionally, it secured new long-term customers for its nutritionals plant in Darnum – including Bellamy’s Organics – and entered into a joint venture agreement with Beingmate. “We’re investing in programs and innovations to support our market-leading cheese and spread brands – Western Star, Perfect Italiano, Mainland and Bega – we’re building on the early success of our newly launched Anchor brand in Australia, and we’re maintaining the excellent performance of our Foodservice business,” Mr Dedoncker said. “All these initiatives have laid the foundation for a strong sustainable business that is profitable for the long-term and well-positioned to pay our farmers the best possible milk price in a competitive global market.” The Wagga Wagga sale is expected to be finalised during October 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Stratasys showcases cutting edge 3D printing technology for aerospace and automotive manufacturing Stratasys announced that it is previewing demonstrations of next generation manufacturing technologies at IMTS 2016 as part of its SHAPING WHAT’S NEXT™ vision for manufacturing. The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator for producing large tools and production partsImage credit: investors.stratasys.com SHAPING WHAT’S NEXT builds on the company’s industrial FDM® 3D printing expertise, helping customers to overcome the challenge of rapidly producing bigger, stronger, higher quality parts ranging in size from an automobile armrest to an entire aircraft interior panel. The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator – to be displayed at the company’s IMTS booth on 12-17 September – is designed to address the requirements of aerospace, automotive and other industries for large lightweight, thermoplastic parts with repeatable mechanical properties. According to the company, the Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator features a revolutionary approach to FDM extrusion that increases throughput and repeatability. “The system turns the traditional 3D printer concept on its side to realize an “infinite-build” approach which prints on a vertical plane for practically unlimited part size in the build direction,” Statasys said in a press release. Aerospace giant Boeing, which is currently using an Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator to explore the production of low volume, lightweight parts, played an influential role in defining the requirements and specifications for the demonstrator. “Additive manufacturing represents a great opportunity for Boeing and our customers, so we made a strategic decision more than a decade ago to work closely with Stratasys on this technology. We are always looking for ways to reduce the cost and weight of aircraft structures, or reduce the time it takes to prototype and test new tools and products so we can provide them to customers in a more affordable and rapid manner,” said Darryl Davis, President, Boeing Phantom Works. “The Stratasys Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator enables products to be made at a much larger and potentially unlimited length, offering us a breakthrough tool to add to our robust additive manufacturing processes.” Ford is also exploring innovative automotive manufacturing applications for this demonstrator, and the two companies will work together to test and develop new applications for automotive-grade 3D printed materials that were not previously possible due to limited size. “3D printing holds the promise of changing automotive design and manufacturing because it opens up new ways to innovate and create efficiencies in production,” said Mike Whitens, director, Vehicle Enterprise Sciences, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering. “Our vision at Ford is to make high-speed, high-quality printing of automotive-grade parts a reality. We are excited about the future opportunities that the scalable and versatile Infinite-Build concept can unlock, and look forward to collaborating with Stratasys to help achieve our goals.” Stratasys has also been working closely with Siemens to advance their shared vision of making 3D printing a viable and indispensable component of production manufacturing. The collaboration has led to the development of the Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator integrating Statasys’ core additive manufacturing technologies with industrial motion control hardware and design-to-3D printing software capabilities provided by Siemens. “Siemens is pleased to support Stratasys in their innovative additive manufacturing initiatives, of which the Stratasys Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator is one of the most promising,” said Arun Jain, VP, Motion Control, Digital Factory US, Siemens. “By working closely with Stratasys on motion control and CNC automation, Siemens is helping to create a flexible, multi-function manufacturing workflow that puts 3D printing firmly in the factory. We look forward to continuing to work with Stratasys to build manufacturing solutions that transform industries,” In addition to showcasing the Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators at IMTS 2016, Stratasys will also present examples of 3D printing applications used by its customers around the globe for tooling and manufacturing processes, including 3D printed Jigs & Fixtures, Composite Tooling, Mold Tooling and Production Parts. Australian Manufacturing

ACCC to launch in-depth investigation into Australia’s dairy industry The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will launch a comprehensive inquiry into the national dairy industry to investigate the sharing of risk along the supply chain, supply agreements and contracts, competition, bargaining and trading practices. Image credit: ACCC Twitter page The inquiry will be led by ACCC’s Agriculture Unit, which was established through an $11.4 million commitment by the Coalition Government in the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce said the inquiry will empower the ACCC to demand and obtain information from companies, and take legal action if required. “Our dairy farmers deserve fair returns at the farm gate, as well as transparency in milk price arrangements and supply contracts, which is why I can announce the ACCC will undertake a detailed inquiry into our national dairy industry,” Minister Joyce said. “An in-depth and independent inquiry is a thorough and fair way to uncover inefficiencies and inequities that our farmers face – and identify a way forward. I encourage everyone in the dairy industry to contribute to the inquiry—there will be confidentiality arrangements in place to ensure the ACCC gets the information it needs while protecting commercial interests.” The investigation, to commence in November, will result in the release of an issues paper which will see ACCC engage with stakeholders through public and private hearings, and written submissions to deliver a final report to government in the second half of 2017. Minister Joyce, who attended a dairy symposium in Melbourne on Friday, said the meeting gathered key stakeholders together to facilitate industry-led options to address challenges facing the Australian dairy industry and discuss ways to improve the industry’s prospects going forward. “The symposium was an opportunity to facilitate an industry-led discussion to better manage risk along the dairy supply chain, including managing the effects of world dairy prices. We covered a number of topics including the outlook for the Australian dairy industry and options for improving milk price transparency, strengthening bargaining and restoring industry confidence,” he said. “The Coalition Government will continue to work with dairy farmers and processors to strengthen the industry, including our election commitment of up to $2 million to establish a commodity milk price index—the ACCC’s findings from this inquiry will be a vital source of information when looking at options for the index.” Australian Manufacturing

Alstom wins US$2bn contracts from Amtark US government-owned passenger train service Amtark has contracted Alstom to design and build 28 new high-speed trains which will run on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington D.C. Image credit: www.alstom.com Amtark has also awarded Alstom with a contract to provide long-term technical support and supply spare components and parts for the maintenance of the new trainsets. The order is for Avelia Liberty, the latest development of Alstom’s high-speed train range Avelia, which will be able to carry up to 33% more passengers than the current Acela trains and will travel at speeds up to 300 km/h. Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman said the new trainsets will increase passenger capacity, provide more frequent service, minimize journey times and improve operating costs and energy efficiency. “Amtrak is taking the necessary actions to keep our customers, the Northeast region and the American economy moving forward,” Mr Boardman said. “These trainsets and the modernization and improvement of infrastructure will provide our customers with the mobility and experience of the future.” According to Alstom, the trainset configuration includes an innovative compact power car and nine passenger cars, with the possibility to add three more cars. Each concentrated power car is equipped with Alstom’s pioneering Crash Energy Management (CEM) system. The train is also equipped with the company’s Tiltronix anticipative tilting technology, which allows the train to manoeuvre curves safely and more comfortably at high speeds. Jérôme Wallut, Senior Vice President, Alstom North-America said the best part of the Avelia Liberty for Amtrak will be manufactured in the United States. He said the new trainsets will be manufactured at Alstom’s site in Hornell, and maintained in the depots of Amtrak in Boston, New York and Washington DC with additional support from Alstom’s sites in New York, Delaware and Illinois. “Alstom’s high speed trains, which we have branded Avelia, are the most advanced, reliable and safest trains in the world,’ Mr Wallut said. “Avelia Liberty will not only provide premium passenger experience but will also provide greater energy efficiency and lower lifecycle costs. This award is an illustration of the success of Alstom’s strategy of customer proximity. We would like to thank Amtrak for its vote of confidence and remain fully dedicated to making this project a success”. The two contracts, valued at US $2 billion, will result in the creation of more than 1,000 jobs, including 750 in New York with 400 of those at Alstom facilities. Australian Manufacturing

Developing protective coating to fight off superbugs CSIRO is working on an innovative solution to reduce the number of deaths caused by drug resistant infections resulting from medical device use. Image credit: blog.csiro.au Led by Dr Berklay Ozcelik – a Postdoctoral Fellow in CSIRO’s Manufacturing business unit – the research seeks to reduce the emergence of “superbugs” and to minimise antibiotic use by preventing bacterial infections associated with medical devices from occurring in the first place. Dr Ozcelik, who was named the 2016 winner of the “Fresh Science” program for developing a special film that may help repair damaged corneas and reduce the need for donors, said he’s developed a polymer based coating for implantable medical devices that combines multiple defence mechanisms to prevent bacteria from colonising the surface and forming into a biofilm antibiotics can’t penetrate. “Modern medical science uses implantable devices including catheters, endotracheal tubes, and device drivelines,” he said. “They help in the treatment and recovery of patients and save countless lives but as they enter the body, their surfaces can also serve as a platform for bacteria to grow and infect the patient. Our novel polymer coating provides multiple layers of defence to stop this. Tests have shown it reduces bacterial colonisation on surfaces by more than 99 per cent.” Comprising biocompatible polymers and synthetic peptides, Dr Ozcelik’s polymer coating stops bacterial cells but doesn’t harm human cells or blood. Moreover, his coating method doesn’t involve several complex steps, an oxygen free environment or toxic solvents to bond, which is not the case with other coating methods currently available. “It’s a one step process using commercially available precursors”, Dr Ozcelik added. “It’s as simple as spraying or otherwise applying the coating on medical equipment, then letting it dry. That’s it. You shouldn’t have to reapply the coating at all.” Australian Manufacturing

$250,000 to fund advancements in carbon fibre and composite manufacturing in Geelong The Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong has been allocated $250,000 through the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre to develop an internationally-recognised advanced manufacturing hub and accelerate the growth of the carbon fibre industry in Geelong. Image credit: www.industry.gov.au “This will support joint projects by businesses and researchers on carbon fibre, advanced fibre and composite manufacturing,” said Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon Greg Hunt. “These projects will raise the region’s technology leadership resulting in new products and processes making the region more globally competitive.” The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre is part of the Government’s $250 million Industry Growth Centres Initiative, an industry-led approach to supporting and encouraging innovation, productivity and competitiveness in key industry sectors. Federal Member for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson MP, said the $14 million Centre was an “incredibly important initiative” for Geelong. “The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre sends a very strong signal to our nation that Geelong and Corangamite are at the forefront of advanced manufacturing. This just shows how much the Turnbull Government is investing in the jobs of the future and, of course, in advanced manufacturing,” Ms Henderson said. “The investment today will strengthen Geelong’s well-established leadership amongst Australian manufacturers and researchers, and reflects the types of investments and strategies that will be recommended by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s Sector Competitiveness Plan.” The Advanced Fibre Cluster, which is supported by the Geelong Manufacturing Council, comprises a number of innovative companies and organisations such as carbon fibre wheel manufacturer Carbon Revolution, CSIRO, Austeng and Quickstep. Geelong is also home of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s National Carbon Fibre Manufacturing Collaboration Hub, which was created with Deakin University and CSIRO Fibres of the Future Laboratory. Australian Manufacturing

World’s first modular ammonium nitrate plant opens in Western Australia The Yara Pilbara Nitrates technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) manufacturing plant was officially opened on Tuesday, heralding the next generation of downstream processing in the resource rich Pilbara region of Western Australia. Image credit: www.orica.com Developed in joint venture by Yara International ASA and Orica Limited, the plant will have an annual capacity to produce 330,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is the main component of explosives used in the mining, quarrying and construction industries. The Yara and Orica joint venture facility, which is fully integrated with the neighbouring Yara Pilbara Fertilisers ammonia plant, was officially opened by WA Premier Colin Barnett at a ceremony that marked the completion of the plant’s construction phase. Yara International President and CEO Svein Tore Holsether described the achievement as “exciting development” in the company’s growth strategy in Australia. “Yara’s decision to go further downstream into AN production in the Pilbara reflects the long term value we see for our business in Australia and also the proximity of both Yara Pilbara operations to important Asia Pacific markets,” Mr Holsether said. “We are using Western Australian gas to first create a highly valued product, ammonia, and then undertake further processing to deliver a crucial material for the mining and civil works sector,” Mr Holsether said. Orica CEO Alberto Calderon said the plant’s strategic location in one of the world’s great mining regions would deliver multiple benefits to the JV partners. “Ideally situated in the Pilbara, the plant will deliver a local source of ammonium nitrate, improve Orica’s overall responsiveness to customers’ needs, and deliver increased security of supply for our customers across the region,” Mr Calderon added. “Ammonium nitrate from the plant will underpin predicted growth across the Pilbara mining sector. As such, this is a strategic, long term investment for Orica.” Under the JV agreement between the two parties, Yara will operate the plant and Orica will manage sales and distribution of the product. The Yara Pilbara Nitrates plant is the first in the world to be built using modularised construction. It will have 70 operational employees and all will live with their families in the nearby community of Karratha. The plant, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2016, utilises the latest technology and design to minimise its environmental footprint, resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Australian Manufacturing

SA government urges Commonwealth to stop eroding state’s naval skill base The South Australian state government has called on the Commonwealth to act swiftly and deliver on its promise for new jobs and investment from naval warship construction. Image credit: www.asc.com.au It comes after naval defence company ASC announced on Wednesday that it be forced to reduce the number of workers on the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project by about 175 by the end of October. The move would climb ASC’s job losses to more than 600 in the past 18 months, with the company’s chief executive Mark Lamarre stating that a further 1100 of the remaining 2230 permanent employees are expected to be laid off by 2018. “The ASC yesterday provided 175 reasons why the Commonwealth needs to move faster to get the results it has promised,” Defence Industries Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith said on Thursday. “175 ship building jobs have been lost this week, with a further 1100 jobs at risk by the end of 2018. There is no time to waste.” He said the South Australian Government has urged the Federal Coalition to take urgent action on the 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels, including a build timetable, commitment to the amount of Australia supply chain opportunities and immediate commencement of infrastructure upgrades. According to him, the state government also called on the Commonwealth to advance the timetable for the nine Future Frigates program, which is $35 billion investment that is expected to create 2000 jobs. It also demanded that the Federal Coalition deliver on its promise that at least 90% of the work on the submarine project will occur in Australia and to consult with ASC stakeholders upon the company’s future ownership structures and preferred arrangements of the ownership of infrastructure at Osborne. “Much has been promised and so far there are few signs of delivery. Australians are right to be concerned at the lack of progress on the OPV project,” the Minister said. “There has been no confirmation of when and how the Commonwealth Government intend to progress the Frigate and Submarine projects.” He said communication from both Minister for Defence Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne had been poor, adding that there was “uncertainty” as to who is the senior minister. “The South Australian Government has already taken action on Master Plan options for Techport and its associated shipbuilding infrastructure. In October we are taking a large delegation of defence industry companies to the global naval shipbuilding showcase Euronaval in Paris where we have established a significant exhibition presence. Little has been forthcoming from Canberra,” Mr Hamilton Smith added. “As each day goes by, the job losses and erosion of the skill base increases. Australian businesses and workers and their families want the Federal Government to maintain the highest priority in bringing the OPV project forward to protect the efficiency and integrity of the industry.” Australian Manufacturing

Retail Food Group set to acquire Hudson Pacific Global multi-brand retail food franchisor Retail Food Group (RFG) has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire Australian food service and manufacturing business Hudson Pacific Corporation for $88 million. Image credit: www.rfg.com.au Hudson Pacific is a leading Victorian independent foodservice business that also comprises Dairy Country – Australia’s largest independent cheese value-adding enterprise – and Bakery Fresh, a Victorian based manufacturer of chilled/frozen value-added bread products. With a combined 70+ years experience in foodservice, procurement, warehouse, distribution and manufacturing, Hudson brings to the table $139 million in revenue from its food and beverage distribution business that services over 2000 retail outlets and restaurants. RFG Managing Director Andre Nell said the acquisition of Hudson – subject to confirmatory due diligence & usual conditions – marked the company’s formal transformation into a full service food and beverage company. He said the move will provide the Group with access to new markets and meaningful vertical integration opportunity. “The acquisition provides RFG immediate expertise and scale in food service, dairy processing and bakery manufacture, offering benefits for both franchisees and wholesale customers through an enhanced procurement, manufacturing and distribution offering,” Mr Nell added. In parallel with the Hudson acquisition, RFG also announced its full year accounts to 30 June 2016, achieving record underlying Net Profit After Tax of $66.4m – a 20.5% increase on the previous period – and the product of record FY16 EBITDA of $110.2m, an increase of 24% on FY15. Australian Manufacturing

CIMIC’s Thiess and Sedgman awarded $105m in contract extensions CIMIC Group’s mineral processing company, Sedgman, has won a three-year contract extension by Red Mountain Joint Venture (RMJV) to continue operations at the its coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) in the Bowen Basin, Queensland. Image credit: CIMIC Group Twitter page The $75 million contract will see Sedgman , which has worked for RMJV since 2007, operate at the plant until June 2019 with an option to extend for an additional two years after the initial period. In a separate agreement announced on Thursday, CIMIC’s mining services provider Thiess has expanded its mining services contract at the Lake Vermont Coal Mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. The company, which has operated the mine since 2008, will also design and build an additional processing module at the CHPP, generating revenue of $30 million. According to the press release by CIMIC, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the module will be undertaken by Sedgman, while Thiess will continue to operate and maintain the facility for the balance of the current contract term, as announced on 11 December 2015. “Thiess and Sedgman’s continual focus on delivering industry leading results is evident in their ongoing performance for these long term clients,” said CIMIC Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Marcelino Fernández Verdes. “The Lake Vermont expansion demonstrates the value of the CIMIC Group’s capability, drawing together the best of Thiess and Sedgman’s expertise to deliver value for our clients.” Sedgman Acting Managing Director Michael Carretta said the contract extension builds on the fruitful JV partnership between the two companies which was established more than 10 years ago. “For more than a decade, Thiess and Sedgman have worked together to provide innovative solutions for our clients, which we are pleased to continue,” Mr Carretta said. Thiess Managing Director Michael Wright said the combined know-how of Thiess and Sedgman will deliver great value for the Jellinbah Group. “The Lake Vermont expansion combines the expertise of both Thiess and Sedgman to deliver a solution that will improve resource recovery and generate greater value from the mine for our client Jellinbah Group,” Mr Wright added. Australian Manufacturing

Conergy to begin construction of landmark solar project near Lukeland Conergy will next week begin construction of a world-leading project in far north Queensland that will combine big battery storage and big solar to supply solar power after sundown and during peak usage times. Lakeland solar and storage projectImage credit: arena.gov.au Stretching over a 50-hectare site near the town of Lakeland, the $42.5 million project is the Southern Hemisphere’s first integrated solar, storage and fringe-of-grid project of this size and scale. It consists of a 13MWp/10.8MWac solar power PV ground-mounted array (featuring 41,440 solar panels), with a 1.4MW/5.3MWh Conergy ‘CHESS’ storage solution that combined will create a consistent power supply, even during times of cloud cover. “It will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of over 3,000 homes day and night, and will connect to Ergon Energy’s existing substation – one of the most remote National Electricity Market (NEM) connected substations in Australia,” the company said in a media statement. ARENA has provided $17.4 million in funding support, whereas Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Nord/LB) has approved a 15-year non-recourse financing facility for the project. Conergy Managing Director David McCallum said civil and mechanical works on the project are expected to be completed by April next year. “Utility-scale solar and storage, combined with effective management software, is the Holy Grail of the global renewable energy industry, and with this project we are well within reach of it,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity to combine the latest developments in solar technology with utility-scale battery storage to feed consistent, quality power into the existing electricity grid.” Conergy has also formed a knowledge sharing steering committee – which was joined by BHP Billiton, Ergon Energy and Origin Energy – to communicate the lessons and experiences gained through the development of the project and to accelerate similar developments across Australia. “Along with our knowledge-share partners, we’ll be closely testing and demonstrating how the integrated technology performs, with the view that this model could be used more widely in the future,” Mr McCallum added. “We want to demonstrate how this technology can provide an effective and consistent supply to the grid or operate in islanding mode, particularly in fringe-of-grid locations, paving the way for this integrated model to be used more widely around the world.” ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the project will greatly aid ARENA’s efforts to deploy more large-scale solar PV plants across the country. “Figuring out how solar PV and battery storage technologies best work together at a large scale will be crucial for helping more renewables enter our grids,” Mr Frischknecht added. “We know that battery storage will play a critical role in our future energy systems. The benefit of adding batteries to solar farms is simple; they store energy from the sun for use at peak times and overnight. They can also smooth solar energy output on cloudy days.” Australian Manufacturing

ŠKODA gears up for Industry 4.0 ŠKODA is increasingly focusing on the introduction of innovative future technologies in operations as the Czech car maker prepares for the forth industrial revolution. Image credit: www.volkswagenag.com The company has adopted the ProGlove industrial glove to facilitate and improve the work of its Logistics division, which employs over 3,000 members of staff who plan and ensure successful delivery of worldwide brand logistics. “Nowadays, logistics is an important economic and competitive factor which contributes considerably to a car manufacturer’s success,” said Ji?í Cee, Head of ŠKODA Brand Logistics. “At ŠKODA, we therefore continuously test cutting-edge technology in order to improve the day-to-day work of our employees. The intelligent ProGlove helps our team to work more quickly, more efficiently and with virtually no errors.” The ProGlove is an electronic glove fitted with a scanner designed to improve work in logistics. Mr Cee said the glove was subjected to an endurance test which convinced ŠKODA Logistics to sanction its use going forward. “ProGlove proved itself to be the ideal solution for series production and has been used in our logistics ever since,” he said. Designed to make day-to-day work easier and quicker for the wearer, the smart glove shows whether the right part is being used and whether production steps are being correctly followed. Much like conventional scanners, it can also capture data – but in one simple action and without any additional device – allowing goods to be registered quickly and easily. “In addition, workflow becomes more ergonomic for the user: data collection or material testing are incorporated into natural hand movements,” the company said in a press release. “Using the intelligent glove, codes can be read both vertically and horizontally. The code is then confirmed using the activation button on the index finger. The code is confirmed either by a sound or a vibration therefore preventing an incorrect code from being scanned.” Australian Manufacturing

MG reports rise in first half profits despite challenging conditions Murray Goulburn (MG) has enjoyed a positive first half of 2016 despite feeling the effects of low global commodity prices and the oversupply of milk largely caused by European overproduction. Image credit: www.mgc.com.au The co-operative recorded a 61.2% increase in net profit in the first half although its revenue dropped by 3% to $2.8 billion compared to last year’s result. “FY16 has been a challenging year for our co-operative,” said MG’s interim Chief Executive Officer, David Mallinson. “We faced an environment comprised of very challenging settings, including sustained low commodity prices, a volatile Australian dollar, changes in Chinese regulations, and difficult seasonal conditions across many of our key regions.” The company’s Dairy Foods business delivered positive results in the year, with the Devondale brand posting annual sales of $580 million (up 45 percent from FY15). “MG’s Dairy Foods business continued to deliver consistent growth in very challenging conditions, in particular the performance of the Devondale brand which continues to grow and now has annual sales of $580 million,” Mr Mallinson added. The Ingredients business, which is highly exposed to commodity prices, was severely impacted by the very low commodity price environment in the first half of 2016 and suffered a 26% reduction in sales. However, Mr Mallinson said that MG’s Nutritionals segment provided some offset to the performance of Ingredients, with revenue growing 50 % in the year, driven by strong demand from B2B customers for Australian sourced nutritional products. “Our Ingredients business continued to be heavily impacted by global commodity prices, which were offset to a degree by excellent growth by our Nutritionals business,” Mr Mallinson pointed out. He said the successful year for MG was also reflected in the company’s balance sheet, and in particular, its net debt position. “Net debt at closing was $480 million, with gearing at 29.0 percent. We have made early progress in sustainably reducing working capital, removing $51 million predominantly from receivables in FY16 with a target to remove a further $100 million to $110 million from working capital in FY17,” Mr Mallinson concluded. “Our capital projects will be tailored, particularly our planned dairy beverages investment, to ensure capital is deployed only if appropriate returns are achievable. MG’s net debt of $480 million is a prudent level for the current environment, whilst giving MG the balance sheet strength to progress important investment for the future.” Australian Manufacturing

Rio Tinto celebrates 50-year anniversary of first iron ore shipment Rio Tinto is celebrating the 50th anniversary since its first contracted shipment of iron ore departed for the Yawata Iron and Steel Company in Japan. Image credit: www.riotinto.com. Photographer: Christian Sprogoe Photography Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said when the MV Houn Maru departed Dampier 50 years ago nobody could have predicted that Pilbara iron ore would underpin Australia’s economic growth. “The Pilbara’s vast iron ore deposits, and the people who developed them, have helped build modern Australia and some of the world’s leading economies,” Mr Salisbury said. “Over the past 50 years Rio Tinto has invested more than $37 billion to grow our Pilbara operations. We now employ 12,000 people who operate our network of mines, rail and ports, and sell our iron ore to customers all around the world.” He said the relationships formed with local Pilbara communities, community and government partners, Traditional Owners, and business partners and customers have been vital to the company’s success over the years. “Rio Tinto is proud to be part of Western Australia’s transformation where new communities have been created, world-leading technology developed and international relationships forged,” Mr Salisbury concluded. Australian Manufacturing

GreenSync wins grant funding to progress innovative Community Grids Mornington Peninsula project Energy technology company GreenSync has been awarded funding as part of the Government’s $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund which was established to support Victorian-based projects that increase the uptake of renewable energy generation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive innovation in new energy technologies. Image credit: www.greensync.com.au The company will receive $554,886 to support its digital control platform, which co-ordinates and optimises renewables connected to the grid. Headquartered in Melborune, GreenSync is a home-grown company pioneering solutions to network challenges like integrating more renewable energy into the grid. The organisation recently opened an office in Singapore and is set to double in size in the next 12 months. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Ms Lily D’Ambrosio said the funding will support GreenSync’s Community Grids Mornington Peninsula project, which will deliver a solution to reducing peaks in energy demand and network constraints in the region. She said the project will help participants to manage their energy use whilst offsetting the need to build costly new infrastructure to accommodate exceptionally high demand for electricity on just a few days of the year. “GreenSync exemplifies the New Energy Jobs Program – a technology business founded in Melbourne, creating new energy jobs in Victoria and exporting its technology internationally,” the Minister said. “This is an innovative project which will demonstrate how we can both avoid costly infrastructure and facilitate the connection of more renewable energy to the grid.” GreenSync said it will use the funding to install two battery systems at community centres such as schools and surf lifesaving clubs where existing solar PV will enable implementation of a solar and storage solution. The company will also use the funds to pilot up to 250 Demand Response Enabled Device (DRED) control units in households across the Peninsula in the next 18 months. “Through DRED control, air conditioners can have their power optimised or their use sequenced, without reducing comfort, to lower peak demand when the grid is under stress,” GreenSync said in a press release. “The project will demonstrate this innovative technology, and assess the best approaches for a wider roll out across the community from 2018.” The grant awarded to GreenSync is one of 24 grants which will be announced in the coming months, with GreenSync obtaining funding under the Technology category. “The Labor Government received a strong response to the $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund with applicants providing innovative ideas for projects that support a clean energy future and help position Victoria as a leader in new energy technologies,” Minister D’Ambrosio concluded. Australian Manufacturing

3D Systems aid international effort to rehabilitate abused toucan 3D Systems announced that its digital manufacturing solutions played a critical role in the rehabilitation of a Costa Rican toucan that lost a large portion of its upper beak as a result of a senseless attack. 3D scanning and 3D design software were integral to restoring Grecia’s anatomy and autonomyImage credit: www.3dsystems.com The attack not only prevented Grecia from feeding and fending for itself, but it also sparked a nation-wide animal welfare campaign that quickly spread around the globe. To help with Grecia’s rehabilitation, 3D Systems teamed up with its partner and reseller Grupo SG to devise a custom prosthetic using the company’s end-to-end digital manufacturing solutions. The company also worked alongside a group of Costa Rican product designers, dentists and nanotechnology experts, as well as with ZOOAVE Rescue Centre in Costa Rica – where Grecia was taken – to pair the best prosthetic design with the best available materials and technology. “In addition to fitting Grecia’s residual anatomy, the beak needed to be strong, biocompatible and have a smooth surface finish that would not promote contamination or encourage bacteria growth,” 3D Systems said in a statement. “These structural and material demands led the team to choose Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) with DuraForm® ProX PA plastic on the 3D Systems ProX® SLS 500.” Grupo SG took 3D scans of Grecia’s damaged anatomy as well as of a reference beak from a healthy toucan and sent them to 3D Systems to reverse-engineer an attachable prosthetic beak with custom mechanical components for comfortable wear. 3D Systems said it used Geomagic Wrap® software to transform the 3D scan data into feature-based CAD models. It said the models were then imported into Geomagic® Freeform® for organic 3D modelling to combine, add and remove the elements required. According to the company, final inspection was performed using Geomagic® Control™ before the file was printed, finished and fitted. “The flexibility of our end-to-end digital manufacturing workflow is critical in these kinds of applications that venture into uncharted territory,” said Chuck Hull, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, 3D Systems. “We are delighted our technology could play such an impactful and beneficial role to help this cause.” We are happy to report that thanks to his 3D printed prosthetic beak Grecia is now able to take care of himself without any assistance. Australian Manufacturing

Australia’s caravan and camping industry creates “trifecta of growth” for the country Australia’s caravan and motorhome manufacturing industry has grown consistently in recent years, culminating in its highest production levels in 37 years. Image credit: Caravan Industry Association of Australia YouTube channel The caravan and motorhome manufacturers are increasing production to meet continued consumer demand, which is reflected in the substantial growth in caravan registrations reported in ABS’ latest report. ABS said there are now 554,540 caravans registered in Australia, which represents a 4.9% increase in new registrations compared to the previous year’s result. According to the report, campervans registrations have also registered a significant growth of 4.3% on prior year’s figures. Commenting on the report, the Caravan Industry Association of Australia said the country’s caravan and camping industry – the fastest growing commercially–operated accommodation sector – created a trifecta of growth the whole nation can benefit from. “The manufacturers are producing increasing numbers of recreational vehicles, consumers are purchasing and registering recreational vehicles in greater numbers, and caravan and camping tourists are out there enjoying the great Australian holiday more than ever before,” the Association said in a media statement. “The current conditions are the perfect storm, creating far-reaching opportunities for the entire country. It isn’t just the caravanning and camping industry that wins here, it’s the local communities who benefit from jobs created and the vast range of businesses that service the visitor economy. And of course, the tourists who continue to enjoy the unique Australian experiences that the caravanning and camping lifestyle delivers.” It said the backdrop to all the positive growth is low fuel prices and historically low interest rates, encouraging discretionary expenditure from domestic consumers. “This is further supported by the declining value of the dollar contributing to more Australians holidaying at home, creating the robust era in caravanning and camping with the potential to introduce new consumers to the experience as well as reconnecting with existing markets who may have holidayed internationally in the past,” reads the statement. Australian Manufacturing

Three SA-based solar companies win state government tender South Australia’s Cool or Cosy, Suntrix and Zen Energy have won state government contracts to supply and install up to 400 solar photovoltaic systems on public housing properties. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj by dan The three companies are to install up to 200 solar PV systems on public housing in the Adelaide City Council area, and a further 200 solar PV systems on new public housing being built in metropolitan and regional areas. The $2 million project, which is funded through the $65 million public housing package announced in the 2015-16 State Budget, forms part of the State Government’s commitment to a sustainable low carbon future and the Carbon Neutral Adelaide initiative. Acting Housing and Urban Development Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith described the project as a “win-win” for the Housing Trust tenants living in these properties and the three solar companies that won the tender. “Installing solar panels will be an important step in reducing living costs for some of South Australia’s most vulnerable citizens while contributing towards making the Adelaide the world’s first carbon neutral city,” the Minister said. “As well as providing substantial savings on electricity bills for public housing tenants, these contracts will also support about 75 local jobs within the local solar industry.” Australian Manufacturing

WA Government cuts solar industry red tape The Government of Western Australia has announced that it intends to enforce new regulatory measures that are intended to boost the uptake of rooftop solar panels in the state. Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.NetBy: njaj According to the official announcement by WA Minister for Energy, the Hon Mike Nahan BEc MS PhD MLA, this will also contribute to making the technology more accessible to more customers. “West Australians are embracing solar energy in unprecedented numbers and the State Government wants to ensure everyone has access to this exciting technology,” Dr Nahan said. The new measures will alleviate the work of solar power purchase agreement (PPA) providers in WA by enabling them to apply directly to the Public Utilities Office (PUO) for exemptions from the requirement to hold a retail licence in order to sell electricity to consumers. “By creating the exemption, we have broken down barriers, cut red tape and reduced the regulatory costs for solar PPA providers to offer electricity services to customers. This will help the emerging market to develop and increase the choices that customers have to access these innovative and renewable sources of electricity at an affordable price,” Dr Nahan said. “The Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme will also be available to eligible customers who export electricity back into the grid. Retail licence exemptions, which can now be submitted to the PUO, will also include important consumer protection conditions to ensure consumers are aware of their rights and obligations under the solar PPA before entering into a contract.” Australian Manufacturing

Evolve Group named among Australian Financial Reviews top 50 most innovative companies Design and manufacturing firm Evolve Group announced that it has been named in the Australian Financial Reviews Top 50 Most Innovative Companies. Image credit: Evolve Group Facebook page The company, which bagged the coveted 2016 Good Design Award of the Year in June, also won the prestigious Best Product Innovation award for the design, manufacture and optimisation of the Flow Hive, an inventive beehive system invented by Cedar and Stuart Anderson. Managing Director and founder Ty Hermans said the win was a testament to the company’s dedication to hard work and innovation. “It is a great feeling to be featured on the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies list and is a reflection of the hard work we put into making sure we are delivering true innovation for our clients,” Mr Hermans said. “Our team lives and breathes innovation and this mind set is what’s helped us to continue to grow and deliver unique products to market.” Mr Hermans said the success of Flow Hive was a consequence of the company’s core value of embracing and promoting a culture of innovation in the workplace. “Australia has such a rich history of innovation, and we are fortunate enough to at the coal face working with great Australian companies to bring some of the most cutting-edge ideas and products to life,” he added. “We work closely with our clients right from the initial concepting through to the design process and manufacturing, and final stage of successfully launching to market.” In keeping with their reputation of keen disruptors, the company has also utilised innovative tactics to launch products through crowdfunding campaigns to build consumer excitement for new products. As a result of adopting such a hands-on approach with their clients, Evolve has an impressive track record of successfully launching all of the products they have partnered on to market. Australian Manufacturing

Aulong Shipbuilding wins first ferry contract Austal announced that its recently established joint venture with Guandong Jianglong Shipbuilding has won its first ferry contract. Image credit: www.austal.com Aulong Shipbuilding, which was set up less than two months ago, has won a A$10 million contract to design and build a 42 metre high speed aluminium ferry for Chinese mainland operator, Blue Sea Jet. Austal said the ferry is based on a proven company design developed in Australia and will carry up to 288 passengers on the Zhuhai – Hong Kong route, at speeds in excess of 36 knots. “To win our first vessel to be built in China within weeks of setting up the joint venture is a great testament to Austal and our joint venture partner, Jianglong Shipbuilding,” said Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton, adding that construction of the vessel is anticipated to commence in October 2016, with delivery scheduled for October 2017. “This is another export win for an Australian designed vessel in a competitive market and clearly validates both the joint venture and the decision to build in China.” He said the company has appointed an Australian General Manager to oversee the delivery of this and all subsequent contracts and to ensure that Austal’s quality and customer satisfaction is maintained in the joint venture. “Austal has previously delivered 52 vessels to 20 customers in China, Hong Kong and Macau from our Henderson, Western Australia shipyard,” Mr Singleton added. “Now, with an in-country solution utilising Australian design and technology and a proven local shipbuilder, we can cost effectively pursue more opportunities and expand our market share in mainland China.” Austal holds 40% stake in Aulong Shipbuilding while Jianglong Shipbuilding owns the remaining with 60%. Australian Manufacturing

BlueScope records strong profit growth in June half BlueScope has recorded a $353.8 million net profit after tax in the June half, which represents a $217.5 million increase on last year’s result. Image credit: BlueScope Steel Managing Director and CEO Paul O’Malley said the underlying net profit climbed to $293.1 million in the year, driven by a strong second half contribution of $174.1 million. He said second half underlying EBIT was $340.4 million, 160% higher than the comparable period in FY2015. Mr O’Malley attributed the strong profit growth to a combination of sales growth, the benefit of the North Star acquisition and the massive cost cutting at its Port Kembla Steelworks, where 500 jobs were axed and unions agreed to a three-year pay freeze. “Across our global portfolio our people achieved these outstanding results while also continuing our safety journey to zero harm,” Mr O’Malley said. “Our direct interventions in reducing costs have significantly lifted performance of our steelmaking operations in Australia and New Zealand despite continuing global overcapacity and production which drove regional commodity steel spreads in the six months to 3 June to their lowest levels since BlueScope listed in 2002.” He said the company will pursue further productivity improvements going forward. “We need to deliver returns necessary to support a decision in 10 to 15 years to reline the blast furnace at Port Kembla. What we have achieved in the last year is essential to being the competitive and profitable producer needed to support this future investment opportunity. All stakeholders have a role to play in securing our steelmaking future,” Mr O’Malley added. According to BlueScope’s financial result for this half, net debt at 30 June was $778.0 million, reduced by $595.4 million from December 2015 through strong operating cash flow. The company also announced that the Board has approved payment of a fully franked full year dividend of 3.0 cents per share, in line with its FY2015 final dividend. Australian Manufacturing

AMWU: Giving one of the nation’s largest train-building contracts to South Korea an act of betrayal The AMWU launched a scathing attack on the Baird Government following its decision to build NSW’s $2.3 billion inter-city train fleet overseas. Image credit: www.amwu.org. The contract was awarded to RailConnect – a joint venture between the Hyundai Rotem Company, Mitsubishi Electric Australia and UGL Rail – which will built 65 eight-car double deck EMUs that will run between Sydney and Newcastle, the Central Coast, South Coast and the Blue Mountains. NSW Secretary Tim Ayres said the “disastrous decision” has exported over 1000 skilled jobs and decimated NSW rail manufacturing for the sake of “minimal dollar saving of just 25 per cent”. “This decision is a betrayal – Premier Baird is running this state like a merchant banker. This is money that should have been invested in Australian workers and Australian communities,” Mr Ayres said. “We will be seeking critical talks with the government to prevent the collapse of the rail manufacturing industry. Mike Baird does not understand what these jobs mean to regional communities. Decision after decision shows that he is out of touch with the lives of the people of this state.” UGL Broadmeadow delegate Phil Walters pointed out that youth unemployment in the Hunter region was the among state’s highest. He said both Downer EDI and UGL in the Hunter were well capable of building trains, adding that the Government had squandered a great opportunity to create hundreds of new jobs including apprenticeships. “It’s disgraceful to invest over $2 billion in someone else’s economy, it’s foolish. And it’s despicable to have no regard for the giving the young people of this region a future, let alone blue collar workers,” Mr Walters added. Australian Manufacturing

New STEM Business Fellowship program announced The Turnbull Government has announced the new STEM Business Fellowship program which provides grants of up to $105,000 per annum to help small and medium businesses undertake two to three year projects with early career researchers from Australian research organisations. Image credit: www.csiro.au In announcing the program on Friday, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Greg Hunt said it has the capacity to deliver up to $24 million of research projects over the next four years with co-investment from participating research organisations and matching cash contributions from small and medium businesses. “Research and development can be expensive for small business to access, so this initiative and others offered through SME Connect make it easier and more viable,” the Minister said. “The STEM Business Fellowship program is being managed by SME Connect, which has already helped more than 180 Australian SMEs create jobs, expand their products, services and customer base, and access international markets.” Successful STEM examples include Textor’s collaboration with CSIRO for the development of a novel moisture-trapping fabric that is highly absorbent and comfortable. The new material is used by global company Kimberly-Clark in the millions of nappies produced around the world, including in Australia, the US and Russia. Another STEM success story is CSIRO’s collaboration with Victorian biotech company Anatomics and St Vincent’s Hospital for the development and production of a 3D titanium rib and heel implants. The heel implant was produced using a CSIRO 3D printer and implanted by surgeons at St Vincent’s Hospital in a patient with cancer of the bone who was facing amputation of the leg. “CSIRO has a great track record of linking small and medium businesses with the right researchers and facilities to help them innovate, but this revitalisation will ensure it can offer the best service possible to its clients,” Mr Hunt added. “SME Connect not only links small and medium businesses to CSIRO researchers but also universities and other research organisations. The SME Connect team is looking for small and medium businesses to partner with research organisations on innovation projects.” Australian Manufacturing

Santos posts A$1.4m first-half loss Australian energy company Santos has recorded a US$1,104 million (A$1.4 million) first half net loss caused by the massive impairment charge on its LNG export facility in Queensland and the lower oil prices. Image credit: Santos GLNG Facebook page Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said excluding impairments and other one-off items, the company recorded an underlying net loss of US$5 million after tax for the first half. “When I joined the company in February, I said the first priority was to assess the company’s assets and deliver the appropriate organisational structure to ensure that Santos is sustainable in a low oil price environment,” Mr Gallagher said. “Our goal is to be free cash flow breakeven at between US$35 to US$40 per barrel on a portfolio basis. We have made good progress in the first half towards this goal and are forecasting a free cash flow breakeven oil price of US$43.50 per barrel for 2016, down from US$47 per barrel.” According to him, the establishment of the new operating model will lift productivity and drive long-term value for shareholders in a low oil price environment. “Our asset-focused model is supported by strong technical capabilities in exploration, development, production and commercial. The appointment of the new Executive team (Excom) was a key step in establishing the new operating model,” Mr Gallagher added. “Our progress is also evidenced by record production and significant cost reductions achieved in the first half: unit upstream production costs were down by 15% to US$8.80/boe and capital expenditure down by 58% to US$283 million.” He said despite the visible progress towards achieving financial stability, there was still a lot of work to be done. “Our near-term focus is clear: embed the new operating model, drive down costs and apply available cash flow to reduce debt,” Mr Gallagher pointed out. “I am confident we are taking the right steps to ensure Santos becomes a strong and sustainable business,” Mr Gallagher said. Australian Manufacturing

Caterpillar to shed 155 jobs as it continues business restructuring Caterpillar will be focusing on exploring strategic alternatives for certain mining products as part of the company’s plan to optimise its manufacturing footprint. Image credit: www.caterpillar.com The company said it will focus on products with the greatest growth potential and seek strategic alternatives for its room and pillar products, which serve a segment of underground soft rock mining customers. Denise Johnson, group president with responsibility for Resource Industries also pointed out that that Caterpillar is not excluding possible divestitures. “These moves, which align with Caterpillar’s ongoing restructuring, will allow us to focus resources on those areas of the business that provide the highest, sustainable growth and best long-term returns,” Ms Johnson said. She said the company will stop taking new orders while the business is under strategic review. “Caterpillar remains committed to an extensive mining product portfolio. We firmly believe mining is an attractive long-term industry, and we continue to invest in a broad range of products, both surface and underground. We are targeting our investments within the mining product portfolio to concentrate on those areas with the highest profitability potential,” Ms Johnson added. “At the same time, we continue to manage through the longest down-cycle in our history. We know these ongoing restructuring actions are not easy on our workforce; I’m grateful for our team’s ongoing dedication.” The company will also be taking actions to reduce the workforce in Houston, Pennsylvania, where the room and pillar products are manufactured. Ms Johnson said Caterpillar intends to sell the room and pillar products, but did not rule out the possible closure of the Houston facility. “Total workforce reductions of up to 155 positions associated with the room and pillar business are expected, with some occurring immediately. These actions will more closely align employment levels with current end-market demand,” she added. “In Denison, Texas, where track drills are produced, approximately 40 positions will be eliminated as a result of the track drill exit and other facility restructuring.” Caterpillar also announced that it will repurpose its mining facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, into to a rail facility beginning later this year, with operations to transfer to Progress Rail, a wholly owned Caterpillar subsidiary. “As a result, the company will relocate the manufacturing of some components used in large mining trucks from its facility in Winston-Salem to its existing facility in Decatur, Illinois,” the company said in a press release. Australian Manufacturing

Lithium Australia to commence Sileach pilot plant trials within weeks Lithium Australia (LIT) has provided an update on the progress relating to its Sileach™ pilot plant for the extraction of lithium from silicate minerals and production of battery grade lithium carbonate. Image credit: lithium-au.com The company said that preparations for the pilot plant, which will provide data for a study on a full-scale Sileach demonstration plant (to be built in Western Australia), are well advanced. “Installation of all major equipment has been completed with successful ‘cold’ commissioning of the plant completed his week. Hot commissioning is now in the process of being completed and pilot plant trials are expected to start in the next few weeks,” the company told the ASX. “The intention is to operate the pilot plant at the throughput of 4-5 kg/h dry solids and process in excess of 600 kg of lithium concentrate feed.” Lithium Australia is a dedicated developer of disruptive lithium extraction technologies. The company, which recently won a $195,632 WA Government grant to advance the development of its lithium processing technology, has strategic alliances with a number of companies, potentially providing access to a diversified lithium mineral inventory. Australian Manufacturing

ABB’s YuMi wins high recognition at the inaugural Golden Finger awards Leading global technology company ABB announced that its YuMi® robot solution – the world’s first truly collaborative robot – was recognised with a prestigious Golden Finger award as one of the best industrial robots of 2016 at the China International Robot Show (CIROS) in Shanghai. Image credit: ABB Organized by the China Machinery Industry Federation and the China Robot Industry Alliance, CIROS is one of the three largest robot technology events in the world. This was the inaugural edition of the Golden Finger awards, which were jointly setup with CIROS and China’s Machinery & Electronics Business newspaper. The awards were established as part of the beginning of the country’s 13th Five Year Plan and Made in China 2025 Strategy which aims to transform China into a global manufacturing leader. “Robots will play a key role in improving productivity and shifting the country’s manufacturing focus from being ‘big’ to being ‘strong.’,” ABB said in a press release. “One out of every four robots sold today is sold in China, which is the world’s leading robotics growth market.” ABB’s YuMi robot solution was specifically designed to offer production agility and flexibility by unlocking innovative new collaborative manufacturing solutions where people and robots safely work together on shared tasks. “There is an exceptional passion for innovation here in China. ABB is working closely with its customers to help transform their manufacturing and find new ways of unlocking the flexible, efficient ‘factory of the future,’ today. Collaborative automation will certainly play a large part in this journey,” said Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division. “It’s a great honour for ABB to receive this recognition here in China and among distinguished peers at of the world’s most important robot technology events.” Earlier this year, ABB’s YuMi robot solution was recognised for outstanding achievements in commercialising innovative robot technology with the prestigious Invention and Entrepreneurship Award (IERA) during the Automatica trade fair in Munich, Germany. Australian Manufacturing

UGL as part of RailConnect Consortium to build NSW’s new inter-city train fleet UGL Limited announced that its unincorporated joint venture with Hyundai Rotem and Mitsubishi Electric Australia, RailConnect NSW, has won a $2.3 billion contract to build an inter-city train fleet for New South Wales. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2b26RbS The new intercity fleet is a NSW Government project to replace trains carrying customers from Sydney to the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Blue Mountains and the South Coast. According to UGL, the fleet of high capacity double deck trains will offer long distance customers a “more enjoyable travelling experience” by providing them with advanced communications technology, more comfortable seating and enhanced commuter amenities. UGL said its part of the contract will generate revenue of around $570 million, primarily from maintenance and asset management services including the initial maintenance facility installation works. “We are pleased to be a member of this world class consortium selected by Transport for NSW to deliver and maintain the next generation of passenger trains for the Sydney region,” said UGL CEO, Mr Ross Taylor. JV partners Hyundai Rotem and Mitsubishi Electric Australia will be responsible for delivery of the fleet from design through to final commissioning, with UGL to provide local support through the design and testing phases of the project. “The New Intercity Fleet adds another significant long term maintenance contract to the order book of our Rail business and reflects UGL’s position as an industry-leading provider of rail maintenance services to the Australian market,” Mr Taylor concluded. The first trains will be delivered by 2019, with the rest of the fleet to be shipped progressively through to 2022. Australian Manufacturing

Dematic makes first shipment of its new AGV range Leading material handling and logistics automation company Dematic announced that it has made its first delivery of the company’s new range of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) from its factory in Belrose, NSW. Image provided The delivery was for a major Australian beverage company, which ordered four-metre double pallet handlers and six-metre double pallet handlers, all with fork spreading capabilities. Dematic’s new AGVs provide multiple benefits to customers, allowing for handling of double pallets of product which will be transported safely and accurately around the clock by driverless AGVs. These benefits include reduced labour costs and on-going damage to equipment and stock, as well as improved supply chain reliability and traceability. For businesses which run multiple shifts, the return on investment is rapid. “We began manufacturing Dematic’s new AGV range in our Sydney facility in June this year,” said Tommy Eklof, Director of AGVs at Dematic. “We are very excited to have shipped our first AGVs from Dematic’s Belrose facility.” Dematic’s comprehensive range of AGVs includes forklifts, unit load, very narrow aisle (VNA) and specialty vehicles to reliably move materials, stock and finished goods through DCs and production environments in a timely, safe and cost-effective manner. In March 2016, the company acquired NDC Automation, a leading provider of AGVs and software in Australia and New Zealand, adding further to its comprehensive range of integrated logistics and supply chain automation solutions. NDC has been the leading manufacturer and supplier of AGVs in Australia for over 25 years. Australian Manufacturing

Ford to field fully autonomous vehicle for ride sharing by 2021 Ford has unveiled plans to develop and introduce a high-volume, fully autonomous SAE level 4-capable vehicle by 2021. Image credit: media.ford.com The move is part of the Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to be a leader in autonomous vehicles, connectivity, mobility, the customer experience, and data and analytics by 2021. “The next decade will be defined by automation of the automobile, and we see autonomous vehicles as having as significant an impact on society as Ford’s moving assembly line did 100 years ago,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “We’re dedicated to putting on the road an autonomous vehicle that can improve safety and solve social and environmental challenges for millions of people – not just those who can afford luxury vehicles.” To realise its goal of fielding a fully autonomous vehicle on the road, the car maker has announced investments and collaborations with four startups that will enhance its strong research in advanced algorithms, 3D mapping, LiDAR, and radar and camera sensors. Ford has invested in Velodyne – the Silicon Valley-based leader in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors – with a goal to quickly mass-produce a more affordable automotive LiDAR sensor. The company has also acquired SAIPS, the Israel-based computer vision and machine learning company, to further strengthen its expertise in artificial intelligence and enhance computer vision. SAIPS is a developer of algorithmic solutions in image and video processing, deep learning, signal processing and classification. Ford believes that this expertise will help its autonomous vehicles learn and adapt to the surroundings of their environment. In addition, the company has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Nirenberg Neuroscience, a machine vision business that cracked the neural code the eye uses to transmit visual information to the brain. This discovery has led to the development of a powerful machine vision platform for performing navigation, object recognition, facial recognition and other functions, with many potential applications. For example, company founder Dr Nirenberg is already using the platform to develop a device for restoring sight to patients with degenerative diseases of the retina. According to Ford, the partnership with Nirenberg Neuroscience will help bring humanlike intelligence to the machine learning modules of its autonomous vehicle virtual driver system. The car maker has also invested in Civil Maps to further develop high-resolution 3D mapping capabilities. This California-based startup has pioneered an innovative 3D mapping technique that is scalable and more efficient than existing processes, providing Ford with another way to develop high-resolution 3D maps of autonomous vehicle environments. Ford also is expanding its Silicon Valley operations, doubling its Silicon Valley team and more than doubling its Palo Alto campus. “Our presence in Silicon Valley has been integral to accelerating our learning and deliverables driving Ford Smart Mobility,” said Ken Washington, Ford vice president, Research and Advanced Engineering. “Our goal was to become a member of the community. Today, we are actively working with more than 40 startups, and have developed a strong collaboration with many incubators, allowing us to accelerate development of technologies and services.” Australian Manufacturing

New biofuels pilot plant in Gladstone receives government approval Queensland’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection has approved the construction of a new biofuels plant near Gladostone. Northern Oil RefineryImage credit: www.sor.com.au The new pilot plant, which will be built at Northern Oil Refinery in Yarwin, will turn waste such as tyre rubber into renewable oil for biofuels, opening up a whole new industry for Queensland. Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said the new plant will see Queensland become the home of a new, 21st century clean industry for Australia. “Biofuels promises to be a revolutionary game changer for the environment, for transport fuels, and for regional Queensland economies,” the Minister said. “This is the first facility in Queensland to recycle waste lubricating oil for re-use. In fact, this was a business destined for NSW but the Palaszczuk Government was able to attract the investment, and the jobs it brings, to Queensland.” He said the environmental approval will allow Northern Oil to receive and treat a broader range of waste materials and convert them into renewable oil which can then be treated to become suitable for use across a range of sectors. “The company is now ready to expand its operations to include wastes such as bagasse from sugar cane milling, green waste from regional cities, woody weeds like prickly acacia and tyres from the mining sector, heavy transport and passenger vehicles,” the Minister added. Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the plant would generate hundreds of new jobs in Central Queensland. “The $16 million biofuels pilot plant is scheduled to open later this year and is the next step towards a $150 million, commercial-scale biofuel plant. The renewable oil it produces can be converted into quality fuels that can be marketed across a variety of industries and sectors that are looking to reduce their carbon footprints,” Mr Butcher said. “In 2014-2015 4.76 million tonnes of waste went into landfill. In contrast, Northern Oil Refineries is proving that there are more innovative alternatives which not only reduce waste but can lead to a whole new economic sector. It’s also a clear indication that by working together in partnership industry and Government can achieve better waste management options and better environmental outcomes.” Australian Manufacturing

Optomec’s groundbreaking Aerosol Jet Technology enables 3D printing complex electronics at micron scale Optomec, a privately-held, rapidly growing supplier of additive manufacturing systems, has recently announced new 3D printing technology that has significant potential to reduce the cost and size of next-generation products used in the electronics and bio-medical industries. Image credit: Optomec Facebook page This groundbreaking solution, called Aerosol Jet Technology, can enable 3D polymer and composite structures to be printed at the micron scale with embedded electronics. According to the company, the new technology combines its proven Aerosol Jet solution for fine feature printing with a proprietary in-situ curing capability for rapid on-the-fly solidification to enable the highest resolution features available. “This breakthrough in 3D printing technology extends additive manufacturing to the creation of micron scale, free-form polymer structures and smart devices,” said Mike O’Reilly, Optomec Director Aerosol Jet Product Management, adding that early adopter customers have already developed innovative applications for smart devices and micro-fluidic applications. “We continue to place emphasis on innovation such as Aerosol Jet 3D micro-structure printing to address our customer’s next generation product development challenges.” The process allows for free-form 3D structures to be printed at the micron-scale, without the need for support structures, from materials including photopolymers and certain composites. Optomec said the resulting structures can be metallised with conformal 3D conductive traces and printed functional components, such as antennas and sensors, to create fully functional 3D components all in one manufacturing machine. “Aerosol Jet 3D micro-structure printing is capable of ultra-high resolutions with lateral features sizes down to 10 microns, and lateral and vertical build resolutions from 1 micron to 100 nanometres respectively,” the company said in a press release. “Aspect ratios of more than 100:1 have been achieved. Additionally, such 3D micro-structures can be printed onto existing components and products, such as semiconductor chips, medical devices or industrial parts.” Australian Manufacturing

Universal Robina Corporation set to acquire Australia’s second largest salty snacks maker Philippines food company Universal Robina Corporation (URC) has agreed to acquire Snack Brands Australia for $600 million. Image credit: snackbrands.com.au URC, which has a significant and growing presence in ASEAN markets, said it intends to enable Snack Brands to continue as an independent operation, with management and manufacturing jobs to remain intact. Snack Brands Chief Executive Officer, Mr Paul Musgrave, described the URC acquisition as a “growth oriented transaction” which will have positive implications for the business and its workforce. “What this achieves for the business is to take Australian manufactured product, with its distinct food security advantage, into Asian markets with the benefit of an established distribution force,” Mr Musgrave stated. “It means there are no intended job losses but instead a stronger growth path with a new partner and the prospects of adding new URC product categories from New Zealand to our local markets. It is also expected to be a positive for many of Snack Brands suppliers such as potato and corn growers.” According to the press release by Snack Brands, the acquisition is subject to approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board. Australian Manufacturing

Australian manufacturers must embrace innovation to compete, says Seeley International Seeley International, Australia’s largest air conditioning manufacturer and market leader in the design and manufacture of ducted and portable heating and cooling products, has used a win for the revolutionary Braemar SuperStealth in the 2016 Australian Business Awards to urge manufacturers to commit to an ongoing program of innovation if they want to remain competitive. Image credit: Seeley International Facebook page The company’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Mr Frank Seeley AM said Australian businesses need to take greater risks and place far greater emphasis on innovation to stay ahead of the pack in today’s harsh market environment. “Australians have had a reputation for thinking outside the square, but that now seems to have faded over time. If we want to see our manufacturing sector survive and flourish then we need to re-grasp our Aussie ingenuity and start setting the pace in what is now a highly competitive global environment,” Mr Seeley said. “We need to remember the basics of what has made our nation great. We need to embrace the notion of being a bush mechanic that has to think outside the square to get lasting results. We need to be less risk adverse and more willing to have a crack at something, and learn more from failure rather than success,” he said. He said the company’s win in the 2016 Australian Business Award for its energy-efficient Braemar SuperStealth cooler demonstrates that achieving the impossible “needs a mindset that embraces challenge and change”. “If I had listened to those who told me that a great idea could never become a reality then I probably would never have started in business. Instead, I have surrounded myself with people who also embrace innovation and are the best in the business – and our Australian Business Awards win reinforces that great things can be achieved when an Australian company is committed to innovation as a base standard,” Mr Seeley said. “In reality, this isn’t just a win for Seeley International. It’s a win for Australian manufacturers. It’s a win for every entrepreneur and innovator who starts the day wanting to make a difference and refusing to accept the status quo.” He said that because Australian companies work in high-cost production environment, they have to “innovate like there is no tomorrow”, use world class technology and have the highest levels of automation in their production processes. “Seeley International is living proof that there can be a bright future for the Australian manufacturing industry – and I challenge Australian businesses to consider whether they could be doing more across these critical areas instead of waiting for better economic conditions,” Mr Seeley added. The prestigious award win for the Braemar SuperStealth comes after its recent victory in the 2016 Good Design Awards, where it was crowned as a Good Design® Selection winner in the Product Design category (Domestic appliances) in recognition of its reduced energy usage, noise and impact on the environment. Australian Manufacturing

Dematic celebrates 50 years of innovation in ANZ Industrial equipment supplier Dematic is celebrating 50 years of innovation in ANZ. Image credit: Dematic Facebook page Founded by Gerry Hatton in 1966, the business constantly expanded and evolved through various transitions: from Colby to Mannesmann to Siemens to Dematic. Throughout the years, many of Australia’s leading retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and 3PLs have worked closely with Dematic, so every day millions of people buy and use products that have been manufactured, stored, picked or distributed by Dematic. The company’s CEO, Glen Borg, said he was excited about the direction Dematic is taking in the region. “Acquiring businesses such as the recent acquisition of NDC Automation, expands the depth of our offering to customers and allows us to design, deliver and deploy global AGV solutions backed by sophisticated, real-time software,” he said. “This combination of Dematic and NDC’s solutions will create real competitive advantage for our customers.” Dematic’s workforce in Australia and New Zealand, Dematic has grown to almost 500 people – the majority of whom are qualified mechanical, electrical, electronics and software engineers and service technicians. This makes the company one of Australia’s leading expert engineering companies. “Dematic is committed to innovation and constantly pushing the boundaries in terms of what can be achieved through new technologies, systems and software, but it is important to state that the real key to its success undoubtedly lies in the great team of people,” Mr Borg added. Dematic is a global business comprised of seven regional competence centres with Australia being the centre for Asia Pacific and software. The Australian arm of Dematic is also responsible for operations throughout ASEAN, with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, and partners in other countries throughout the region. “The structure allows Dematic to leverage economies of scale and global resources, and draw on global expertise, all of which has translated into lower costs and more innovative and greater value solutions for customers,” Mr Borg explained. According to Mr Borg, Dematic will continue to build on its outstanding reputation for excellence in automated materials handling system design, manufacturing, project management, service and support. “We are excited to continue to offer our customers premier technology and software solutions to grow and support their businesses and to achieve outstanding business results,” he said. “The next 50 years look extremely bright!” Australian Manufacturing

Talga delivers first value-added graphene product Industrial minerals company Talga Resources announced that it has produced and delivered its first value-added graphene based product. Image credit: Talga Resources ASX release According to the company, the product – a metal pre-treatment coating – was delivered to a leading global coating company following the filing of a patent application over the Coating composition and production method. “The Coating is the first of a range of targeted value added products that Talga is developing and looking to commercialise,” Talga told the ASX. “The global coatings company assessing the Coating will undertake accelerated application and performance trials over coming months.” The company’s Coating is simultaneously being tested at research institutions in the UK and India, where scientific peer review analysis and publication of the results will be conducted. “Pending the outcome of the industry and academic Coating test work, the Company will, in addition to existing raw material initiatives, pursue commercial opportunities including licensing and royalty arrangements with third parties.” Talga said its patent application over the Coating composition and manufacturing method allows it to enter into formal metal pre-treatment knowledge sharing undertakings and expands the company’s intellectual property. Managing Director Mark Thompson said the company has also moved to globally trademark ‘Talphene’ and ‘Talphite’ as its respective brands for industrial scale graphene and micro-graphite products. According to him, the two products will form the marketing platform for Talga’s products manufactured via its unique production technology. “This milestone is the first step to open up numerous growth opportunities in valuable industrial scale markets for graphene products,” commented Mr Thompson. “We have now demonstrated our capability in producing the first of what will be a range of targeted, value-added products to complement Talga’s raw material manufacturing. This supports our strategy to broaden the range of future revenue options and provides opportunities to pursue licensing and royalties associated with the products themselves, as well as the processes adopted to manufacture the compositions.” Australian Manufacturing

Lithium Australia wins WA Government grant to advance its Sileach™ lithium processing technology Lithium Australia (LIT), the dedicated developer of disruptive lithium extraction technologies, has been awarded a $195,632 WA Government grant to commercialise its Sileach™ lithium processing technology to produce lithium extractions from the lithium bearing silicates. Image credit: lithium-au.com The grant has been awarded under the aegis of the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA). The money will be used to fund test work which is currently being undertaken at Murdoch University “on solutions generated from batch testing the Sileach™ process and will extend to solutions then produced form continuous pilot testing.” The company said that if the laboratory and pilot grant testing is successful, it will establish a number of processing hubs with locations targeted around growing lithium resource bases in Australia, North America and Europe. The Sileach™ process is a hydrometallurgical process used for the recovery of lithium from spodumene, currently the primary source of hard-rock lithium production. The Sileach™ process is readily adaptable to other silicate minerals and has been developed to reduce cost of producing lithium chemicals from materials that have traditionally been roasted, with very high energy cost, to recover the lithium. The process has the potential to release the value from stranded lithium silicate deposits and to transform low-grade spodumene occurrences into viable ore. LIT has strategic alliances with a number of companies, potentially providing access to a diversified lithium mineral inventory. The company aspires to create the union between resources and the best available technology and to establish a global lithium processing business. Australian Manufacturing

New Electric Vehicles report: a rapid shift to EVs operating on renewable electricity is realistic and affordable Australia-based, not-for-profit climate change solutions think-tank ‘Beyond Zero Emissions’ has released a new study analysing the transition to 100% electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, powered by 100% renewable energy, over a ten year period. Image credit: bze.org.au/blog According to the study, a shift to 100% electric vehicles would eliminate at least 6% of Australia’s greenhouse emissions and would also result in a reduction of approximately 500-1000 pollution related deaths in the country per year from existing internal combustion engine vehicles. “At present, approximately 6% of Australia’s greenhouse emissions are attributed to the operation of urban passenger vehicles,” reads the study. “Shifting to 100 per cent electric vehicles, operating on renewable electricity, would eliminate these emissions.” The study concludes that rapid shift to electric vehicles operating on 100% renewable electricity is both realistic and affordable, adding that EVs already have the range to cover the majority of urban car trips. “Electric vehicles are significantly cheaper to fuel and maintain. This significantly offsets the current higher purchase price of EVs,” it says in the study. The study goes on to say that costs could be even lower if the country adapts transport behaviours to reduce car ownership. “Policies that make it more convenient for more Australians to use non-car transport modes, such as public transport, walking, cycling and other forms of electric personal mobility (such as bicycles and scooters), combined with increased access to car-share and ride-share schemes, will allow more Australians to avoid the costs of individual car ownership,” the study points out. “This will reduce the costs of a shift to 100% electric vehicles even further, and also make the scale of the task easier as there are less vehicles in the Australian passenger fleet required to transition to EVs.” The analysis also found that a rapid shift to electric buses operating on 100% renewable electricity is also feasible and affordable. “A shift to 100% electric buses for all urban public bus transport in Australia is found to cost only 10% more than business as usual. This amounts to an increase in cost of only $0.72 per capita per week”, reads the anaysis. “If bus and battery technology progresses at the more rapid end of projections, maintenance costs for electric buses are at the lower end of projections, and petrol prices are at the higher end of projections, then this analysis finds that a shift to 100% electric buses in ten years could cost almost 12% less than business as usual. This would mean that a transition to 100% electric buses would be economically attractive.” The Zero Carbon Australia Electric Vehicles Report was officially launched at the University of Queensland St Lucia campus on Friday. Australian Manufacturing

The LiquiForm Group signs up Krones AG as new development partner for groundbreaking LiquiFormTM technology The LiquiForm Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amcor, announced that filling and packaging equipment manufacturer Krones AG has entered into a technology licensing agreement to further develop and commercialise LiquiForm’s breakthrough forming and filling manufacturing technology. Image credit: liquiformgroup.com “With the LiquiFormTM technology, Krones has an opportunity to build on existing bottling technology, intellectual property and know-how to develop unique industrial solutions for improving the total cost of ownership for our customers even further,” said Dr Christian Compera, head of bottling technology at Krones AG. The LiquiForm technology combines container forming and filling processes into a single step. According to the company, it uses liquid product instead of compressed air to form a rigid plastic container, a process which allows for more sustainable and efficient operations as compared to traditional blow and fill technology. “We are pleased to have Krones as a licensee, given its history of technology and innovation leadership in processing, filling and packaging,” said Ashish Saxena, vice president and general manager of The LiquiForm Group. “Adding to the existing efforts of Sidel, Amcor and Yoshino, Krones will aid the technology commercialisation and enable LiquiForm to reach its full potential.” Australian Manufacturing

Downer wins $350m mining contract extension Downer Edi had signed a 4-year contract extension with Karara Mining with a completion date to 31 March 2022. Image credit: www.downergroup.com Downer, which has been providing mining services to Karara since the magnetite operation commenced production in February 2012, said the value of the additional four years work is estimated to be approximately $350 million. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Grant Fenn, said he was “very pleased” to be continuing Downer’s long-standing relationship with Karara. “This extension is an endorsement of Downer’s strong safety and productivity performance and we look forward to bringing further value to Karara’s operations by reducing operating costs, increasing productivity and enhancing safety,” Mr Fenn said. Australian Manufacturing

Volkswagen Group delivers 5.90 million vehicles from January to July The Volkswagen Group has delivered 5.90 million vehicles in the first seven months of the year, which represents a 1.3% increase compared to last year’s corresponding period. Image credit: Volkswagen USA Facebook page According to the car maker, 787,300 of the total number of vehicles sold this year were delivered in July. “Deliveries by the Volkswagen Group in July almost matched the prior-year level and continued the positive trend for the first six months. The Group’s broad brand portfolio is proving to be a great strength,” said Fred Kappler, Head of Group Sales. The company delivered 2.52 million vehicles to customers in Europe from January to July, an increase of 2.6% compared with the previous year. The total number of Group brand deliveries in Europe in the month of July was 323,800, down 4.7% to last year’s result. Customers in Western Europe purchased 2.14 million vehicles in the first seven months of the year (+2.0%), while 377,900 (+6.6%) units were delivered in Central and Eastern Europe, with Poland and the Czech Republic reporting significant growth. 81,500 vehicles were delivered to customers in the North America region in July, slightly down (-0.3%) on the previous year. “While there was strong growth momentum in Mexico, the downturn on the US market continued in July (-5.1%),” the company said in a press release. “The macroeconomic situation in the South America region, particularly in Brazil, remained tense. 37,400 vehicles were delivered in the region in July – a decrease of 23.5%.” A total of 2.35 million vehicles were delivered in the Asia-Pacific region from January to July – an increase of 5.9% on the prior-year figure. Volkswagen said the solid growth in the Asia-Pacific region continued in July, with deliveries for that month increased by 11.6% compared with the previous year to 311,400 units. The Chinese market accounted for the vast majority of deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region in July (285,900), which represents a 16% increase compared with last year’s result. Australian Manufacturing

Adidas to open new SPEEDFACTORY in the US Adidas will open a new, state of the art footwear production site in Atlanta next year that will create around 160 new jobs. Image credit: news.adidas.com The 74,000-square-facility, called SPEEDFACTORY, will complement Adidas’ first SPEEDFACTORY in Germany and will allow the company to manufacture products in increasingly high volumes with advanced complexity in colour, materials and sizes. Adidas Group Executive Board Member Eric Liedtke, responsible for Global Brands, said the new factory will greatly accelerate the manufacturing process and bring products closer to US consumers. “For years our industry has been playing by the same rules manufacturing product remotely in Asia. As the creator brand that challenges convention and looks to co-create the future with our consumers, we are obsessed with bringing all steps of the creation process home to America,” Mr Liedtke said. “We’re fuelling design at the ground level of creativity in Brooklyn and reinventing manufacturing with the first Adidas SPEEDFACTORY in Atlanta. This allows us to make product for the consumer, with the consumer, where the consumer lives in real time, unleashing unparalleled creativity and endless opportunities for customisation in America.” Adidas Group Executive Board Member Glenn Bennett, responsible for Global Operations, said the new facility will also allow the brand to source and produce locally, limiting long shipping distances and driving the brand’s commitment to sustainability. “Speed is far more than a business strategy for us. Speed is all around us. It’s what athletes train for, and it’s essential to our consumers who live in a world of immediacy,” Mr Bennett added. “With the first US-based SPEEDFACTORY, we’re combining some of the world’s best technology and manufacturing processes to give our consumers access to constant newness. This is another big step in our ambition to become the world’s first true fast sports brand.” With the added manufacturing capacity, Adidas will be aiming to produce half a million pairs of shoes for running and other categories in the mid-term. Both the US and Germany facilities are operated by Adidas’ strategic partner Oechsler. Australian Manufacturing

ASC upgrades ‘virtual shipyard’ in preparation for work on Australia’s Future Submarine project Australian submarine builder ASC will upgrade its Dassault Systèmes ENOVIA application to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform – a virtual design, functional mock up, collaboration, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and data intelligence package that integrates complex systems and infrastructure and provides end users with accurate and up-to-date information to make informed decisions. Image credit: www.asc.com.au ASC first selected ENOVIA a decade ago to manage all product-related data for its Collins Class Submarine maintenance activity and has since successfully migrated data from diverse obsolete IT applications to the ENOVIA system, increasing efficiency and innovation. The move will see ASC become the first Australian company to upgrade the ‘virtual shipyard’ system. The company will also optimise its Collins Class submarine maintenance, design, engineering and construction services to the Federal Government ahead of the work on Australia’s Future Submarine project. ASC Interim Chief Executive Stuart Whiley said the upgrade will strengthen the company’s major maintenance activity for the Collins fleet. “ASC has significantly improved its Collins Class maintenance in recent years and this decision will consolidate our gains and lay the groundwork for further improvements towards international benchmarks,” Mr Whiley added. The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is used by a number of industry powerhouses such as Boeing, Airbus, General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works and Germany’s Meyer Werft, one of the world’s leading cruise ship builders. Mr Whiley said that ASC’s upgrade to 3DEXPERIENCE platform complements French submarine designer and builder DCNS’ decision to commit to transitioning to the ENOVIA system. DCNS is the selected design partner for the next fleet of Australian submarines to be built in Adelaide. “We have a close relationship with DCNS and this decision will help to optimise our future work together on the Future Submarines,” Mr Whiley concluded. Australian Manufacturing

SA government injects $7.5m in Future Industries Institute to boost innovation and collaboration The South Australian state government will invest $7.5 million in the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute to develop new industries that can create jobs for the future. Image credit: www.unisa.edu.au Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher said the investment was part of the state government support to accelerate South Australia’s transformation into a modern and innovative economy by promoting innovation and collaboration. “Our game-changing State Budget investment is all about ensuring we can build on and leverage the excellent research and development work that has already positioned our state as an international innovation hub,” the Minister said. “The $7.5 million in funding for the Future Industries Institute will help it generate more collaboration between businesses, industries, and researchers that will help drive economic transformation and growth in South Australia. The Institute has some of the most advanced facilities in Australia, with more than 200 highly skilled researchers working on a range of new technologies and processes that will deliver significant benefits for the community.” The state budget allocates some $80 million to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-tech industries. According to the Minister, the package also includes $50 million for the SA Venture Capital Fund, $10 million for the SA Early Commercialisation Fund, and $4.65 million for the Adelaide Gig City Project, which will connect SA’s innovation precincts with ultra-high speed internet. The Future Industries Institute at the Mawson Lakes Campus, which was established by the University last year, covers four key strands of research: minerals and resource engineering; energy and advanced manufacturing; environmental science and engineering; and biomaterials engineering and nanomedicine. Australian Manufacturing

Metro Glass set to acquire Australian Glass Group New Zealand’s largest value added glass processor Metro Performance Glass has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares in Australian Glass Group (AGG) for A$43.1 million. Image credit: www.metroglass.co.nz AGG, which is currently owned by interests associated with the Trawalla Group, was founded in 2008 and has glass processing plants in Melbourne and Sydney that supply double glazed glass units, custom laminated and toughened safety glass for residential and commercial projects across Victoria, NSW, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania. It is the third largest glass processor in Victoria and NS, generating annual sales of circa A$45 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of circa A$8 million. Metro Glass Chairman Sir John Goulter said the acquisition, subject to customary conditions and adjustments, will be fully debt funded. “This acquisition represents a significant strategic step for our company and we are confident that AGG and the Australian glass processing market more broadly, represent an attractive growth opportunity for Metro Glass long term,” Mr Goulter said. “AGG importantly has a strong management team which will ensure that Metro Glass NZ management can remain highly focused on building the capability and service offering required in NZ to further benefit from the domestic opportunities that lie ahead of us. We have started the financial year well, and continue to benefit from a strong local market.” Australian Manufacturing

Australia offers 28 offshore areas for petroleum exploration The Australian Government has announced the launch of the 2016 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1wqgfG2 The acreage release comprises 28 areas located across five basins in Commonwealth waters offshore of the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands and Western Australia. According to the Government, 25 of the total number of areas are available for work program bidding and three areas for cash bidding. Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Mat Canavan said launching this Acreage Release was a priority for the Australian Government as offshore extraction of gas is considered pivotal to helping Australia become the world’s leading exporter of LNG in coming years. “As Minister for Resources and Northern Australia I am pleased to see continued momentum for exploration in our north and the opportunities for boosting jobs and economic growth this presents,” Mr Canavan said. “All areas in the 2016 acreage release were released for public consultation in February 2016. They are based on industry nominations and present a variety of investment opportunities. Release areas are located in a range of water depths and vary in size and level of existing geological knowledge.” According to the Minister, all areas are supported by pre?competitive geological and geophysical data and analysis, undertaken by Geoscience Australia and information on considerations that may impact upon future petroleum activities in a release area. The acreage is available through the usual combination of work-program rounds and a cash bid auction. Australian Manufacturing

Tesla and SolarCity set to merge Tesla has reached a $2.6 billion agreement to purchase PV manufacturer and installer SolarCity in a move that will create the world’s only vertically integrated sustainable energy company. Image credit: www.teslamotors.com SolarCity said the merger would result in the creation of fully integrated residential, commercial and grid-scale products that improve the way that energy is generated, stored and consumed. “Now is the right time to bring our two companies together: Tesla is getting ready to scale our Powerwall and Powerpack stationary storage products and SolarCity is getting ready to offer next-generation differentiated solar solutions,” the company said in a blog post. “By joining forces, we can operate more efficiently and fully integrate our products, while providing customers with an aesthetically beautiful and simple one-stop solar + storage experience: one installation, one service contract, one phone app.” The merger is also expected to deliver significant cost synergies of $150 million in the first full year after closing and save customers money by lowering hardware costs, reducing installation costs, improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing customer acquisition costs. “We will also be able to leverage Tesla’s 190-store retail network and international presence to extend our combined reach,” reads the blog post. Image credit: SolarCity Facebook page Tesla said the deal would provide significant benefits to shareholders, customers and employees alike. “The SolarCity team has built its company into the clear solar industry leader in the residential, commercial and industrial markets, with significant scale and growing customer penetration,” the company said back in June, when the takeover proposal was first made public. “They have made it easy for customers to switch to clean energy while still providing the best customer experience. We’ve seen this all firsthand through our partnership with SolarCity on a variety of use cases, including those where SolarCity uses Tesla battery packs as part of its solar projects. Under the agreement, SolarCity has a 45-day period known as a “go-shop”, which runs through September 14, 2016 and provides the company with an option to solicit alternative proposals during that time. Australian Manufacturing

ANSTO takes ownership of Australia’s brightest research asset The Australian and Victorian governments announced that ownership of the Australian Synchrotron has been officially transferred to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Image credit: www.ansto.gov.aun Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Greg Hunt said the integration follows the $520 million 10-year operational funding package announced late last year under the National Innovation and Science Agenda for ANSTO to operate the facility. “The Australian Synchrotron is a nationally significant piece of science infrastructure that has supported Australian research, industry and innovation for a decade,” Minister Hunt said. “ANSTO has established relationships with users and stakeholders and has a shared history with the Synchrotron of supporting accelerator science to produce outcomes for industry.” The transfer of ownership comes in the lead up to National Science Week which runs from 13 – 21 August with festivals, activities and events across Australia. “As we move towards National Science Week, Australia’s annual celebration of science’s cultural and economic impact, securing the future of the synchrotron ensures that this country continues to benefit from cutting-edge research,” the Minister added. “I’d like to thank the shareholders of the Australian Synchrotron company, including the Victorian Government, who have secured the future of the facility through this transfer to ANSTO.” ANSTO CEO Dr Adi Paterson noted that the Synchrotron will have long-term, secure funding for the first time in its history. “This will allow the scientists, researchers and clients of the Synchrotron to undertake long-term research, which in turn will deliver societal and economic benefits across Australia and the region,” Mr Paterson said. “ANSTO is thrilled to have welcomed the Australian Synchrotron, and to mark the start of a stronger, expanded organisation to support the research community and deliver for Australia well into the future.” Australian Manufacturing

Accessible vehicle solution specialists strengthens ANZ operations Mobility Networks, the international innovator in wheelchair lifts and ramps for buses, coaches, mini-bus and other accessible vehicles, has strengthened its Australian and New Zealand operations with the opening of a new office and service base in Canberra. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1vhQ6HK The company, which was established in 2014, is the leading multi-national specialist in accessible vehicle solutions providing a single source for all the latest innovations in vehicle access solutions from across the world. With the new ANZ legislation stipulating that all coaches and buses be wheelchair accessible, the range of lifts available from Mobility Networks will be able resolve this requirement whilst minimising risk and maximising safety for all. The company also supplies vehicle lifts manufactured by the recently acquired Italian lift specialist Caroil, which has been efficiently restructured to enhance product and service quality to the ANZ market. Mobility Networks can also provide specialist products for the domestic Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) sector in the ANZ region. According to the company, this ‘Flexi’ branded range includes the FlexiWinch, FlexisRamp and the FlexiWAV lowered floor and tailgate ramp conversion kits. “The Mobility Networks’ product portfolio is perfect for the accessible vehicle sector in Australia and New Zealand. Every solution is engineered precisely with quality components so durability and performance can be assured for 20 years and hence meets regional legislation. Parts of Australia especially the outback are extreme, isolated environments where vehicle reliability is absolutely paramount,” said Mobility Networks CEO, Mr Mike Simmonds. “Therefore by fitting Mobility Networks’ access solutions to commercial vehicles, convertors, operators and passengers will have peace of mind. With the acquisition of Caroil, I can reassure existing customers that the multi-national strength of Mobility Networks Group will boost manufacturing prowess, product innovation and service delivery. In terms of domestic private WAV owners, they will also be able to drive vast distances in the knowledge that their onboard Mobility Networks wheelchair access lifts, ramps and other products will deliver unsurpassed reliability.” Australian Manufacturing

Toyota to recall 15,000 vehicles in Australia Toyota Australia will recall close to 15,000 Toyota 86 vehicles manufactured between April 2012 and March 2015 due to a “potential loss of power steering assist”. Image credit: www.toyota.com The company said that the recall impacts right-hand drive vehicles that are equipped with driver’s knee airbags. “Due to an improper wire harness layout, there is a possibility that the electric power steering harness may interfere with the instrumental panel lower cover which contains the driver’s knee airbag on Australian specification vehicles,” the company said in a press release. “If this happens, there could be an electrical contact failure which may result in the loss of power steering assist. A warning light would then illuminate on the dashboard along with a short audible warning whilst manual steering would be maintained.” Toyota said it will replace the power steering electronic control unit and wire harness in all impacted vehicles. The company has received 62 reports from customers in Australia, with no accidents or injuries reported as a result of this condition. The appropriate repairs will be performed free of charge. Australian Manufacturing

New innovation hub in Melbourne to grow Victoria’s food and fibre sector Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan yesterday officially opened a state-of-the-art hub in Melbourne’s north that will aim to boost innovation, productivity and growth of food and fibre businesses across Victoria. Image credit: www.rmit.edu.au The new $15 million RMIT Food Research and Innovation Centre – which will feature a world-class food pilot plant, product development, sensory evaluation, consumer testing, teaching and research laboratories – will focus on teaching and training, giving university students access to the latest technologies and hands-on experience in product development, food safety and industry placements. According to the minister, the Centre will also serve as an incubation facility for small to medium size businesses, enabling them to test new product concepts, develop prototypes and turn their ideas into high value products and services. “As the nation’s largest producer and exporter of food and fibre products, it’s important we support the industry to help grow local businesses and create new jobs for Victoria,” Mr Noonan said. “This world class education centre will give students hands on experience using the latest technology, while helping businesses turn their ideas into reality.” Victoria is Australia’s largest producer and exporter of food and fibre products, with the food and fibre sector representing 4.9 per cent of Gross State Product and accounting for around half of the state’s total goods exports. Australian Manufacturing

BHP Billiton appoints Non-executive director BHP Billiton has announced the appointment of Ken MacKenzie to the company’s Board as an independent Non-executive director, effective as of 22 September 2016. Image credit: bhpbilliton.com Mr MacKenzie has spent 10 years (2005-2015) as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Amcor Limited, a global packaging company with operations in over 40 countries. He is currently a Senior Adviser with McKinsey & Company and also serves on the Advisory Boards of American Securities Capital Partners and Adamantem Capital. BHP Billiton Chairman, Jac Nasser said he was pleased to be bringing someone with Mr MacKenzie’s expertise and talents to the company. He said the appointment reflected the Board’s commitment to a structured and rigorous approach to Board succession and planning, having regard to the skills, experience and attributes required to effectively govern the business. “Ken will be a great addition to the Board of BHP Billiton. He will bring extensive global and executive experience, and a deeply strategic approach. He has a proven track record, having led a successful company in a challenging sector for a decade,” Mr Nasser added. The addition of Mr MacKenzie to the BHP Billiton Board takes the number of Non-executive Directors to 11. Australian Manufacturing

AGL announces appointment of Elisabeth Brinton at the helm of New Energy business AGL Energy, one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies, has announced the appointment of Elisabeth Brinton as Executive General Manager of its New Energy business unit. Image credit: AGL Energy Facebook page Ms Brinton has more than 25 years of experience growing companies and leading innovation, execution and value creation across sectors including energy, technology, consumer food products and agriculture. Prior to joining AGL, Ms Brinton served as a Corporate Strategy Officer for New York Stock Exchange-listed Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), where she was responsible for establishing the strategic direction for regulated electricity and gas utilities and for leading the holding company’s competitive businesses, strategic investments and mergers and acquisitions. Ms Brinton has also worked for SMUD, the highest ranked US Utility by J.D Powers, and ran global marketing for e infrastructure company LoudCloud, including during its initial public offering. AGL’s Managing Director and CEO, Andy Vesey said he was pleased to have secured the services of Ms Brinton to lead the company’s New Energy business. “Elizabeth is well regarded in the field and is a strong leader with a proven track record of successful innovation, execution and value creating across multiple industries,” he said. “Her contribution will add to the depth of talent and skill at the executive level and be an advantage to AGL as both it and the Industry undergo transformation.” AGL’s New Energy segment was created in 2014 to embrace the major changes transforming the energy industry and to create new business models to meet customers’ needs. It currently comprises rooftop solar, commercial energy services, energy storage, electric vehicle services and the digital metering business, ActiveStream. Ms Brinton appointment will be effectuated in mid-September 2016, after which current Executive General Manager, New Energy, will continue in the Executive General Manager Organisational Transformation role. Australian Manufacturing

Synergy supports WA business into renewable energy A Western Australian-owned and operated business Byford Flour Mill is expected to save more than $34,000 a year on energy bills as part of a solar-powered pilot project supplied by the leading energy generator and retailer Synergy. Image Credit: www.synergy.net.au Synergy’s first commercial solar PV system is made up of 1,110 solar panels will allow Byford Flour Mill to offset 10 percent or more of its annual energy consumption. Synergy Chief Executive Officer Jason Waters said the first sale and pilot project to its long term customer marked Synergy’s entry into the solar PV market at a commercial level in preparation of its official product release later this year. “This trial allows us to help local businesses like Byford Flour Mill take control and reduce energy costs as it looks towards more sustainable and energy efficient operations,” Mr Waters said. “We’re seeing new technologies and consumer demand for choice and control are driving changes in the energy industry. Having already successfully launched our solar offer, SolarReturn, to residential customers we’re confident people will also consider Synergy as another option in the commercial space,” he added. “As we start to release more solar and battery products for households and businesses the solar industry will benefit from additional opportunities it represents the future of the sector and is increasingly how traditional utilities are meeting customer demand.” Byford Flour Mill Director Stephen Dunkley said he was pleased to venture into the renewable energy space and would be monitoring the new solar PV performance closely to understand how he could reduce energy costs. “Currently, our major operations occur overnight as a direct result of energy costs so I am continually looking at ways to shift production to normal business hours, which is why I’ve been working with Synergy on a range of energy optimisation initiatives, in a bid to reach this goal in the near future,” Mr Dunkley said. Australian Manufacturing

GE Transportation completes implementation of advanced software solution within Aurizon’s network GE Transportation and Australia’s largest rail freight operator Aurizon have announced the successful implementation of GE Transportation’s Movement Planner into Aurizon Network’s Control Centre. Image credit: www.aurizon.com.au Alex Kummant, Executive Vice President, Aurizon Network said the implementation of this advanced software solution signifies a milestone along Aurizon’s broader APEX solution implementation plan for rail network and supply chain management. He said the solution is expected to improve network velocity, capacity, and on-time performance across Aurizon’s Central Queensland Coal Network which supports more than 85 coal services daily across one of the most complex rail freight networks in the country. “Investment in both information and operations technology is an integral part of Aurizon’s strategy to become a world leading rail-based transport business,” Mr Kummant added. “We’re always trying to improve our network performance, and this digital solution will allow us to optimise the network, improve efficiency, and provide better service for our customers.” GE Transportation’s Movement Planner provides real-time rail traffic planning and optimisation, enabling freight to move more efficiently using existing rail networks. The solution takes into account multiple factors including train schedules, traffic-control systems and train movements relative to each other and then develops an optimised traffic plan for the trains throughout the network. “Aurizon has a clear vision to transform the operational efficiency and effectiveness of its business through the deployment of cutting edge solutions. We are pleased to provide key support to further enable their capabilities,” said Seth Bodnar, Chief Digital Officer of GE Transportation. “Movement Planner will support the efficient flow of rail traffic across approximately 2,700 kilometres of Aurizon’s rail network.” Aurizon and GE Transportation plan to begin the initial implementation of subsequent planning and scheduling solutions early next year. Australian Manufacturing

MG loses $108m Woolworth deal Murray Goulburn (MG) announced that Woolworths has selected a new supplier to manufacture and pack a range of its private label products including cheese, UHT, adult milk powder and cream. Image credit: www.mgc.com.au The co-operative – which retains the contract to supply private label mozzarella shred cheese as well as the contract to supply private label butter – said the revenue loss stemming from Woolworths’ announcement will be approximately $108 million. MG’s interim Chief Executive Officer, David Mallinson said the financial impact on MG in FY17 will be limited given timing of existing contracts completing. He said the company will adjust future manufacturing planning to redirect this capacity to other markets, limiting future revenue and earnings impacts. “MG continues to enjoy a strong ongoing relationship with Woolworths and they remain a valued partner for our co-operative,” Mr Mallinson remarked. “We believe our tender to retain this business was competitive, whilst balancing acceptable returns for our products given the current environment for our farmer/suppliers and investors. I can also re-assure our valued consumers that ranging of MG’s Devondale and Liddells products are not impacted by this decision and continue to be available at Woolworths nationally.” Australian Manufacturing

Engineers Australia and Siemens announce Digitalization Forum to unlock the full potential of digital technologies Engineers Australia and Siemens announced their inaugural Digitalization Forum which will be held in Melbourne on 1st September. Image credit: www.siemens.com/au The cross-industry forum will bring together industry leaders for a timely discussion on the impact of digitalisation on energy, automation, building technology, transportation systems and process industries. Visiting Siemens global Member of Managing Board, Dr. Roland Busch will deliver keynote on core industries transitioning to the new economy and on the full potential of digital technologies for competitive advantages. The forum will also feature panel discussion from select members of ‘The Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce’ which was established to support Australia’s transition to a new economy and connect the nation to the fourth industrial revolution. According to Siemens, the Digitalization Forum will also include technical breakout sessions such as: Scenario 2050: Additive Manufacturing and Digital Services for Energy facilitated by Vladimir Navrotsky, Head of Technology and Innovation at Energy Service, Oil & Gas and Industrial Applications Digitalization, Industrial Software and Automation session facilitated by Thomas Hahn, Siemens’ international expert on Industry 4.0 and German representative from Plattform Industrie 4.0 Commenting on the upcoming forum, Siemens Australia and New Zealand CEO Jeff Connolly said: “Germany is at the forefront of digitalization and helping their industries transition to the fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0. With operations in 190 countries, Siemens is ideally placed to share knowledge and insights on how companies and industries are embracing digital technologies to reduce costs, improve efficiencies, increase flexibility and productivity – ultimately becoming more competitive,” Mr Connolly said. “While our portfolio of industries is vast, we are witnessing greater cross-sector collaboration to increase innovation and competitiveness at global levels. The Digitalization Forum is a timely reflection of how Australian companies can embrace ingenuity and intelligent technology to grow their local footprint and access global supply chains.” To register for the event, click here. Australian Manufacturing

Australian PMI®: Manufacturing records 13th consecutive month of expansion Australia’s manufacturing sector has continued its unbroken run of expansion to 13 months in July, which represents the longest phase of expansion for the Australian PMI® since August 2004. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXjby Stuart Miles According to Ai Group’s report, the Australian PMI® increased by 4.6 points to 56.4 in July, well above the 50-point mark that separates contraction from expansion. Six of the seven manufacturing activity sub-indexes delivered positive results in July, with deliveries (up 13.7 points to 62.6), sales (up 6.1 points to 59.8), exports (up 9.0 points to 59.5), new orders (up 4.7 points to 58.8) and employment (emerging from contraction to 56.5 points) all expanding at a strong rate. Six of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded, led by wood & paper products (up 1.9 points to 59.6), printing & recorded media (up 7.0 points to 57.2), petroleum & chemical products (down 4.8 points to 57.3) and non-metallic mineral products (down 1.4 points to 56.9). Food, beverages & tobacco slipped by a single point but remained in expansion (52.7 points). Machinery & equipment went up by 3.5 points to 48.3, while and textiles & clothing dropped by 0.8 points to 48.1 and remained in mild contraction. The input prices sub-index lost some ground and fell 4.8 points to 59.0 in July, suggesting relatively lower but ongoing price pressures. The wages sub-index increased 4.2 points to 59.7, with the selling prices sub-index expanding further in July to 54.7. “Manufacturing activity entered its second year of expansion in July with the Australian PMI® recording gains in manufacturing production, sales, exports and employment during the month. The lower value of the local currency has been a key driver behind these gains,” said Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox. “The strong lift in new orders augers well for the sector’s immediate outlook and for a continuation of the role manufacturing is playing in the rebalancing of the broader economy. However, the expansion over the past year has been only a partial recovery from the very serious slump in the years following the global financial crisis. Further substantial gains in manufacturing will require a lift in business investment both within the sector and across the broader economy.” Australian Manufacturing

Australian PCI®: Construction strings together two consecutive months of growth in July The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) reported that the national construction industry expanded for a second consecutive month in July, albeit at a slower rate. Image credit: freedigitalphotos user: jscreationzs According to report, the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association (HIA) Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) dropped by 1.6 points but remained above the 50-point threshold that separates contraction from expansion at 51.6 points. “The construction sector grew again in July despite drags from the engineering construction and apartment sub-sectors. The overall growth came on the back of further expansion in house building and a modest uplift in commercial construction,” said Ai Group Head of Policy, Peter Burn. “Encouragingly, new orders were higher in July in all sub-sectors other than engineering construction which saw a modest fall. July saw the construction sector continuing its own rebalancing with the emphasis shifting away from mining-related projects to the residential sub-sectors and, more recently, with signs of a growing pipeline of transport infrastructure work.” The Australian PCI® findings for July indicate that new orders (down 0.4 points to 51.7) and employment (down 1.7 points to 52.2) expanded at slower rates in July, while the activity sub-index contracted marginally (down 4.1 points to 49.8) after June’s return to growth. Across the four construction sub-sectors, apartment building returned to negative territory (down 7.2 points to 48.0) after its strong recovery in June, but house building recorded a third month of growth (down 7.2 points to 54.9). Commercial construction slipped by 1.5 points to 51.8 in July, while engineering construction returned to contraction (down 2.1 points to 48.6). Growth in the wages sub-index continued steadily in July (up 3.6 points to 66.7), while the input prices sub-index remained elevated (up 1.8 points to 69.3). The selling prices sub-index remained largely unchanged at 51.2. “The Ai Group-HIA Data for July 2016 are consistent with the process of realignment of new home building activity. Apartment building is falling back from record levels while detached house building is a bit stronger,” said HIA Senior Economist, Shane Garrett. “We expect that the share of new home building accounted for by apartments will decline to more long-term levels over the next few years. The failure of the major banks to pass on Tuesday’s RBA interest rate cut means that any benefits for new home building activity are likely to be limited.” Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra’s Western Star brand wins top honours at prestigious dairy product competition Fonterra’s Western Star has collected its third major industry award for the year, winning a Gold and Silver medal at the 2016 Dairy Industry Association of Australia (DIAA) Queensland Dairy Product Competition. Image credit: www.fonterra.com The latest win comes on the back of recent honours at the 2016 Grand Dairy Awards where Australia’s number one selling spreads brand was voted ‘Best Original Butter’. Fonterra Regional Manager – West, Andrew Nooy dedicated the awards to the company’s employees at its Cobden site and the local dairy farmers. “Western Star has been a family favourite for generations. To maintain that generational reputation comes down to our high-quality standards, on-going innovation and the superior cream from our farmers. Made with only three natural ingredients, it is the simplicity of Western Star’s recipe that makes it a winner,” he added. “We’re seeing tremendous growth across past years our Western Star brand, which has been helped by the advent of cooking shows where more and more Australians are cooking and entertaining at home and want to use quality ingredients. You can’t go wrong with a simple, superior, high-quality product and Western Star is proof of that.” Australian Manufacturing

World’s largest virtual power plant set to strengthen South Australian grid Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has partnered with AGL Energy and Sunverge to install 1,000 centrally controlled batteries in South Australia providing a 5 MW storage capacity. AGL, ARENA and Sunverge are creating the world’s largest virtual power plant (5MW) in South Australia. Image credit: http://twitter.com/aglenergy The world’s largest battery storage ‘virtual power plant’ aims to boost grid stability, reduce power price volatility and supports renewable energy. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht joined AGL CEO Andy Vesey and South Australian Treasurer and Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Tom Koutsantonis in Adelaide to launch the project. According to Mr Frischknecht, the $20 million project could point to solutions to South Australia’s grid challenges and reduce the risk of power price shocks in the state. “Australia is on the cusp of a battery storage revolution as technology costs continue to fall. ARENA is at the forefront of figuring out how batteries can best support renewable energy to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable power,” Mr Frischknecht said. “AGL plans to operate the batteries as a kind of virtual power plant, installing them alongside solar PV and linking all 1,000 systems with centralised monitoring and management software,” he added. “The result is like adding a 5 MW power station that can quickly deliver enough energy to power 1,000 South Australian homes where and when it’s needed most. This approach can ease local network constraints, displace gas power and complement the Victorian interconnector, especially during times of peak demand.” For phase one of the project, AGL has selected Sunverge batteries and control systems. It has received an ARENA-backed investment boost and its batteries are also being trialled in Queensland by Ergon Energy in another ARENA-supported project. Mr Frischknecht said ARENA expects virtual power plants to play a significant role in the future as more renewable energy is connected to our power networks. “The approach also offers more value to customers, retailers and network companies from both the batteries and solar panels, making renewable energy more competitive,” Mr Frischknecht said. “This project is set to be the largest demonstration of a virtual power plant in the country. South Australia is home to some of the highest levels of solar and wind in the world, making it an ideal proving ground,” he added. “It could also act as a catalyst and provide evidence for regulatory change to enable more Australian virtual power plants. ARENA funding support depends on the negotiation of a funding agreement, which will include comprehensive knowledge sharing outcomes.” AGL Managing Director and CEO Andy Vesey said AGL is pleased to be partnering with ARENA on this innovative project, which we hope can demonstrate future options for our energy generation and supply mix. “The energy landscape is rapidly changing and distributed energy services through projects like this, involving batteries, solar and the grid, can help customers manage their energy bills and provide grid stability,” Mr Vesey said. Australian Manufacturing

A step closer to Greater Geelong Convention Centre The Victorian Government and Deakin University are planning to have a joint vision to develop opportunities and deliver jobs with a new Geelong Action Plan for a convention centre. Image credit: vic.gov.au The announcement was made at Deakin’s Waterfront Campus by Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander and Premier Daniel Andrews, along with Minister for Planning Richard Wynne and Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford. “Geelong is a proud city with a bright future and we’ll help write its next chapter delivering jobs, prosperity and making it an even better place to live,” said Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria. Deakin University’s waterfront car park site will be the focus of a business study for a 1000-seat convention centre, which would encourage tourism and business growth for the Geelong region. “The new convention centre will help renew the CBD, strengthen tourism, and create crucial jobs,” said Christine Couzens, a member of Geelong. The proposal will include a conference venue with the capacity for 1000 people, 3000 square metres of exhibition space, banquet facilities, meeting rooms, a business centre and retail outlets. In developing plans for the convention centre, Labor Government will invest $1 million with the completed business case to be considered as part of the 2017/18 Victorian Budget. “Greater Geelong is a fantastic place to live, work and do business and with this plan, we’ll ensure Geelong continues to go from strength to strength,” said Lisa Neville, member of Bellarine. Previous work suggests a convention centre would deliver an estimated $350 million to the regional economy during construction and $50 million to the region once operational, including 600 jobs during construction and 270 ongoing jobs in the region. The Labor Government’s Geelong Action Plan is a 10-year agenda to renew central Geelong and boost local jobs. According to Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford, “The Andrews Labor Government is planning for growth so that Geelong can create new opportunities and become an even more attractive destination for new residents and investment.” Short-term initiatives will be supported with $3 million from Regional Development Victoria and $2.8 million from the Victorian Budget 2016/17, including projects that improve Geelong’s public spaces like the Malop Street Green Spine project. “Whether its upgrading Simonds Stadium or ensuring local kids have the schools to match their potential, we’re working hard each and every day to deliver jobs, skills and better outcomes for the Geelong community,” said John Eren, member of Lara. The Labor Government has invested more than $170 million in projects across Greater Geelong including redeveloping Simonds Stadium and the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, as well as upgrading schools such as Geelong High, Matthew Flinders Secondary and Bellarine Secondary, so students can get the very best education. Australian Manufacturing

Australia’s first large-scale wind and solar farm to provide more reliable renewable energy The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is giving $9.9 million support for New Gullen Range Wind Farm Pty Ltd (NGRWF) to develop and construct the $26 million project. Gullen Range Wind Farm Image credit: gullenrangewindfarm.com The 10-MW solar park is scheduled for completion in July 2017, adjacent to the existing Gullen Range Wind Farm. Australia’s first large-scale solar farm to be co-located with wind turbines will be built near Canberra, in a development that promises more reliable, cheaper renewable energy. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said solar and wind were complementary sources of renewable energy that produced power at different times of the day and year. “Co-location provides more continuous energy generation, as wind farms tend to generate more energy overnight whilst solar only generates during the day. Gullen Wind Farm generates more power in winter and the new solar farm will generate more in summer,” Mr. Frischknecht said. “Wind farm owners across Australia could benefit from adding solar plants to their existing sites. Developers can save money on grid connection, approvals and site development costs by co-locating wind and solar plants, whilst also reducing environmental impacts.” Mr. Frischknecht also said that according to NGRWF, the potential co-location savings for the Gullen Range Solar Farm could be as high as $6 million, representing a 20 percent drop in total project cost. “There is huge potential to adopt this approach at other wind farms. An ARENA-supported study found there’s an estimated 1000 MW of potential opportunities to add solar PV alongside existing wind farms – enough to power 700,000 homes. We expect this to more than double by 2020 in line with Australia’s renewable energy target.” He said Gullen Range Solar Farm could show co-location is the most inexpensive way to construct large-scale solar and would be a key impetus for encouraging future projects. “ARENA is focussed on bringing down the cost of renewable energy and encouraging more projects to enter the market,” Mr Frischknecht said. “This is the first project of its type in Australia, so the lessons learned will be invaluable. It has the potential to provide a blueprint for future projects and cement industry confidence in the approach.” Australian Manufacturing

Orora and AHG open new purpose built facility in Bundaberg Orora Limited has today announced the official opening of its purpose-built facility at Bundaberg, in partnership with AHG Refrigerated Logistics. Image: Supplied. The opening was marked by the unveiling of a plaque by Orora Managing Director and CEO, Mr Nigel Garrard and AHG CEO of Logistics, Mr Stephen Cleary, at an event attended by V8 Supercar champion, Scott McLaughlin, customers and local dignitaries. Orora revealed that the new 4200 square metre corrugated packaging, cold storage and transport facility will provide significant long-term benefits to the company’s fruit and produce corrugated customer base in Bundaberg. The additional refrigerated transport resources provided by AHG means Orora can provide an end-to-end packaging solution for its customers, bringing their produce from farm to market in pristine condition. “We see this investment, in Queensland’s horticultural rich heartland, as a key strategic asset for Orora that provides our customers with an integrated supply chain solution for their produce,” said Nigel Garrard, Managing Director and CEO. “In addition, the new facility will provide significant job opportunities particularly during peak season. Bundaberg is a diverse and growing region, the food bowl for Northern Australia. The new facility, along with Orora and AHG’s strategic partnership, will enhance the ability to tailor solutions for growers that have specific supply chain requirements,” he added. Australian Manufacturing

Lockheed Martin to establish leading edge R&D centre in Melbourne Global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin will invest an initial $13 million over three years to establish a Science Technology Engineering Leadership and Research Laboratory (STELaR Lab). Raydon Gates, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia New Zealand and Dr. Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin’s Chief Technology Officer announce the establishment of STELaR Lab to undertake R&D to solve the technology challenges of the future, and work in the art of the possible.Image credit: lockheedmartin.com The facility will be situated in the heart of Melbourne’s emerging technology district between University of Melbourne and RMIT, scheduled to open in early 2017. STELaR Lab is the first leading edge multi-disciplinary facility to be established by Lockheed Martin outside of the United States, will constitute Lockheed Martin’s national R&D operations centre for its current research portfolio in Australia, and undertake additional internal R&D programs. The company confirmed the strategic investment in Australia’s future R&D program will create premium jobs for science and technology graduates, with STELaR Lab anticipated to grow to over 20 employees within three years. In an event, Dr. Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin’s Chief Technology Officer, announced Melbourne’s growing international reputation for research was a key factor in the consideration of a location for the Laboratory. “The decision to establish a multi-disciplinary R&D facility in Australia was partly based on Lockheed Martin’s own track record of Research & Development success with Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group and Australian Universities over the last 20 years,” Mr Jackson said. “Lockheed Martin laboratories operate on the frontline of applied research and development, and have been responsible for many advanced technology breakthroughs. It is our vision that STELaR Lab will add to that unparalleled legacy of technological excellence, and contribute to the advancement of human knowledge.” Raydon Gates AO, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia New Zealand, confirmed the Lab marked a significant step change in Lockheed Martin’s capabilities in Australia, paving the way for deeper collaboration with partners and customers. “Lockheed Martin technologies and best practice capabilities ensure our local partners can meet the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly changing world,” he said. Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews, who was also present at the event, said the new R&D lab will help Victoria captivate and maintain the best minds so we can continue to be the brains behind Australia’s advanced manufacturing, defence technology and innovation. “This investment is a vote of confidence in our workforce and will help promote Victoria’s innovation and design capabilities around the world,” Mr Andrews said. Australian Manufacturing

We are wasting our waste – Media Release We are wasting our waste, particularly our industrial waste, University of Sydney chemical engineering experts advise. Image: http://ift.tt/2aO7PaN Associate Professor Ali Abbas, Director of the Laboratory for Multiscale Systemsat the University’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, said: “We need technology innovations, in particular, new technologies for the sustainable processing of industrial waste or by-products.” The professor who cites ‘fly ash’ – a by-product of coal combustion – as an example of clever recycling and is working with Delta Electricity on solutions to increase the recycling of the by-product said: “We could be recycling fly ash en masse using it as a supplement in concrete mix and its manufacture. “Delta currently recycles 25 percent of the fly ash produced into the cementitious product market. The development of new concrete mix materials creates an opportunity to increase this reuse. “Concrete containing fly ash can be crushed and reused in a range of civil and structural applications. “How many of us now routinely purchase a petrol blend at the pump that contains 10 percent ethanol as a more sustainable and renewable alternative? The concept of using a concrete blend containing 10 percent reused fly ash could become something industry can easily adopt. “Australia’s construction, demolition and power sectors account for more than a third of the country’s waste and we cannot continue to rely on landfill as the primary means of waste disposal,” Professor Abbas said. According to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, Australia’s waste generation almost doubled in the decade 1997 to 2007. But the waste isn’t coming from Australian households or other municipal sources – it is coming from industry. Professor Dianne Wiley, Head of the University’s School of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, said: “The bulk of the waste is coming from the commercial and industrial sectors and from construction and demolition. “What is alarming is the increase in the total waste generated. We need to boost efforts to unlock the value of the underused resources going to landfill, converting them into safe, high-value chemicals and products for use in industry and our homes. “We are already undertaking pioneering research in waste-management and waste-processing technologies. “Our hydrothermal pilot plant at the School of Chemical Engineering is the first of its kind in Australia. The plant has converted various biomass feeds including algae into bio-oils. “The School’s vision is to build research capacity and establish a national waste transformation research hub that will support Australia’s waste industry and make significant contributions to resolving our national waste challenges, ” said Professor Wiley. Media Release by THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Australian Manufacturing

Next-generation Cessna Denali to feature GE’s 3D-printed turboprop engine Textron and GE Aviation have developed the next generation Cessna Denali, a business aircraft powered by 3D printed propeller engine that is powerful and efficient enough to fly from Miami to New York. Textron aviation unveiled the Cessna Denali plane in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Image credit: Textron Aviation Textron Aviation, the world’s largest maker of business propeller planes, announced it would use the new advanced turboprop engine (ATP) for a brand-new plane it has been developing. The plane will have the largest cabin in its class that seats up to eight people. It also features an engine with numerous 3D printed parts by GE, offering more power with less gas consumption in an entry-level price. GE included technology from jet engines that will allow pilots to control the engine and propeller with a single lever. These advancements result in 20 percent less fuel consumption and achieve 10 percent than competing models. According to GE’s Chairman and CEO, Jeff Immelt, the new machine would generate $40 billion in revenue within 25 years. Senior Vice President of Engineering at Textron, Michael Thacker, said that he expected the Cessna Denali’s maiden voyage to take place in 2018. While testing of a new airplane usually takes a year, “the order book is already open”, said Kriya Shortt, Textron Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing. GE’s advanced turboprop engine will have a number of 3D-printed parts. The engine will burn up to 20 percent less fuel and achieve 10 percent more power than other engines in the same class.Image credit: GE Aviation The roots of the new engine go back to 2008, when GE Aviation purchased the small Czech turboprop builder Walter Aircraft Engines. GE focused mainly on making engines for business, commercial and military jets, and helicopters. Over the next seven years, the Czech/American team worked on a new engine design that could produce as much as 1,650 shaft horsepower that could unlock the lucrative space for GE. To develop the new engine, engineers built on Walter and GE turboprop engines, which have completed more than 20 million hours of flight time and served on 30 different types of aircraft. GE calls this cross-pollination of know-how the “GE store,” as they added in the mix, jet engine technologies that have logged more than 1 billion flight-hours, but have never been used inside a turboprop of this size. Among others, the engine also features variable stator vanes, a technology that was originally developed by GE engineer and aviation legend Gerhard Neumann for supersonic jet engines. The design also makes gas turbines used for power generation more efficient and the new engine will also include 3D-printed parts used on jet engines, while the air-cooled turbine blades and integrated propulsion control makes the whole system lessen the pilot’s workload. Brad Mottier, led the new turboprop development, says that packaged together, the new technologies will improve aircraft performance and can extend time between engine overhauls by more than 30 percent. Australian Manufacturing

GM’s Orion Assembly plant ranks eighth largest user of green power American automaker General Motors Orion Assembly plant that builds the Chevrolet Bolt EV, ranks as the eighth largest user of green power generated onsite in the United States among the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership Partners. Over half of the plant is powered by methane captured from decomposing trash in a nearby landfill. Orion Assembly ranks as the eighth largest user of green power in the U.S., according to EPA’s Green Power Partnership. Over half of the plant is powered by methane captured from decomposing trash in a nearby landfill. Image credit: General Motors General Motors is one of 60 multinational companies in the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, which works to identify barriers to buying clean energy and develop solutions to meet growing demand. Groups like these, along with policy support, help to drive and scale renewable energy at an effort to reduce costs. “Building the Bolt EV in a facility that is 54 percent powered by clean energy further adds to the car’s environmental credentials,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, GM Vice President of global manufacturing. “It’s an example of how we live our global sustainable manufacturing commitment while improving our bottom line.” By using renewable energy, Orion Assembly saves $1 million a year. The plant is also home to a 350-kilowatt solar array that sends energy back to the grid. The company’s goal is to promote the use of 125 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020, and it will exceed that goal later this year. “EPA applauds Orion Assembly for its innovation in generating green power from an onsite landfill gas energy system and for taking a leadership position on the environment,” said James Critchfield, Manager of the Green Power Partnership. According to Letha Tawney, Director of Utility Innovation at World Resources Institute, said General Motors, which was a founding member of the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles, has been a vocal advocate for renewable energy sourcing. “The GM team is constantly seeking out innovative approaches to increasing their use of renewable energy around the country,” she added. Orion Assembly is committed to energy efficiency. GM’s painting process at the plant gives the Bolt EV its glossy sheen while at the same time contributing to a reduced environmental footprint. The “three-wet” process allows three layers of paint to be applied to the car followed by a single trip through the oven, saving energy and space previously used by additional equipment. Australian Manufacturing

Robots To Pick And Pack Fonterra Dairy Products At New Victorian Facility Fonterra Australia announced that it will strengthen its Australian distribution network and six warehouses under one facility in Melbourne, following the signing of a 10 year Warehouse Service Agreement with NewCold Advanced Logistics. Image credit: fonterra.com Fonterra Australia Managing Director, René Dedoncker, said by bringing all their third party warehousing services under one roof they will be able to get our dairy foods and ingredients to their domestic and international customers even faster. “The first of its kind in Australia, the facility is highly automated and because of its technology we can be more agile and responsive to our customers’ needs, deliver smaller and more frequent orders and importantly, improve our service delivery.” Dedoncker said that NewCold uses impressive state of the art systems, robots to pick and pack orders and the ‘dark’ cold storage significantly reduces electricity use. “Importantly, having all our warehousing services under one roof will help meet the needs of our multi-hub strategy, which is about playing to our strengths in global ingredients of cheese, whey and nutritionals complementing our Consumer and Foodservice businesses,” he added. The 12-storey facility will be capable of holding up to 110,000 pallets and will initially employ around 60 NewCold people in IT, engineering, software development and management to run the facility 24/7. Founder and Executive Vice President of NewCold, Bram Hage, said this new operation will be one of the very few facilities in the world that is both ambient and temperature controlled under one roof in a highly automated environment. “Our Melbourne operations will play a critical role in driving NewCold’s expansion throughout Australia and Asia Pacific. To partner with Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy exporter, demonstrates our strength in highly automated supply chain management.” Australian Manufacturing

South Australian sports technology innovation company, Zing International has showcased it’s flashing cricket stumps and bails in the United States in last week’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 tournament in Florida. Image: http://zings.biz Designed and manufactured in Port Adelaide, Zing International’s flashing stumps and bails have continued to grow in popularity since launching in 2012, with growing export markets in New Zealand, South Africa, the Caribbean, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. “Zing International shows the growth we are seeing coming out of local technology. Earlier this year the State Government released its annual trade and investment statement which details plans to build on South Australia’s $14.3 billion worth of goods and services exports. This kind of innovation is exactly what we want to showcase in key markets, including India”, said Investment and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith. “Zing International is to be congratulated for consistently growing the export market for this niche product, helping to position South Australia as a world-leader in innovation and design,” he added. Included in the CPL and IPL Twenty20 competitions has meant this unique South Australian product is showcased to audiences of more than two billion people during high profile matches. “For the Zings product to be used in the IPL is an achievement I am extremely proud of as it is one of the highest attended sporting leagues in the world, in a country that follows cricket like a religion,” said Zing Director and inventor, Bronte Eckermann. “While crowd excitement in limited over cricket has traditionally been for the batsman and big hits, what I love about our product is that it gives the bowler that ‘celebration’ moment too,” he added. Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher believes Zing Bails is an excellent example of the sort of innovation that is needed in South Australia to transform and modernise our economy. ” We are backing innovation and entrepreneurship in South Australia with a State Budget investment of almost $80 million dollars.” “This support package includes a new $50 million venture capital fund, a $10 million early commercialisation fund, $7.5 million to support the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute, and $4.65 million for ultra-fast internet to make Adelaide Australia’s first Gig City,” he added. Australian Manufacturing

Victorian Defence Capabilities A Perfect Fit For LAND 400 The Andrews Labor Government has offered support to the announcement that BAE Systems Australia and Rheinmetall Landsysteme have been shortlisted by the Commonwealth to proceed to the test and trials phase of the LAND 400 Phase 2 selection process. Image credit: www.baesystems.com The LAND 400 program is Australia’s most expensive land force equipment project with forecast expenditure of between $14 billion and $20 billion for the next generation of Armoured Fighting Vehicles. The 2016 Defence White Paper has Phase 2’s estimated value between $4 billion and $5 billion. It encourages Australian industry participation, particularly in systems integration, test and evaluation, and through-life support of the capability. The Labor Government has had discussions with both companies and offered support to them to locate their LAND 400 Phase 2 operations in Victoria and integrate Victorian suppliers into their supply chains. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan is looking forward to further discussions with these two companies to capitalise on the state’s world-class research and development, advanced manufacturing and production capabilities. Victoria has a proven capability to develop and produce the LAND 400 project and other future military vehicle programs with production facilities, a highly skilled workforce, test and trial facilities that can all be readily accessed by potential suppliers. Victoria’s defence sector contributes up to $8 billion to the state’s economy every year and the local industry includes more than 300 businesses, employing around 7,000 people. The Labor Government is supporting local companies to secure contracts for land-based defence capability projects like LAND 400 through its recently released Defence Technologies Sector Strategy. Australian Manufacturing

Whitty Engineering opens new facility to improve capacity for large-scale jobs and projects Mount Gambier company Whitty Engineering has completed a new $2.1 million facility which allows them to increase productivity and upgrade capacity for large-scale jobs. Image credit: whittyengineering.com.au The company’s relocation was supported by a $300,000 State Government Regional Development Fund grant. The expansion includes fit-for-purpose sheds with gantries capable of taking up to 10 tonnes, as well as offices and other staff amenities. The Regional Development Fund (RDF) drives economic growth through grants to boost investment in regional infrastructure and jobs creation. Geoff Brock, Regional Development Minister, said the project will create six new full time positions once fully operational. “This expansion provides Whitty Engineering with the capacity to become more competitive in supplying large interstate projects, increasing the recognition and capabilities of the Limestone Coast region,” the Minister said. “The facility features advanced equipment and will increase the company’s workforce to accommodate new business and provide stability for the current workforce.” Engineering Managing Director Will Whitty is very grateful for the RDF grant that helps them increase capacity to service larger jobs than they do before. “This new facility will improve our productivity, the safety of our work site, and create more environmentally sustainable work practices,” Mr Whitty said. “This will ultimately allow us to ensure the long term reliability of services to our current and new customers.” Australian Manufacturing

New facility for Mount Gambier engineering company Construction is complete on a new $2.1 million facility for Whitty Engineering in Mount Gambier which will allow the company to increase productivity and improve its capacity for large-scale jobs. Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net User: renjith krishnan The South Australian Government revealed that a $300,000 State Government Regional Development Fund grant supported the company’s relocation to larger premises. “This expansion provides Whitty Engineering with the capacity to become more competitive in supplying large interstate projects, increasing the recognition and capabilities of the Limestone Coast region,” said Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock. “The facility features advanced equipment and will increase the company’s workforce to accommodate new business and provide stability for the current workforce,” he added. The expansion includes fit-for-purpose sheds with gantries capable of taking up to 10 tonnes, as well as offices and other staff amenities. Once fully operational, the project will also create six new full time positions. “We are grateful for the RDF grant that has supported us in increasing our capacity to service larger jobs than we have been able to do in the past,” said Whitty Engineering Managing Director Will Whitty “This new facility will improve our productivity, the safety of our work site, and create more environmentally sustainable work practices.This will ultimately allow us to ensure the long term reliability of services to our current and new customers,” he added. Australian Manufacturing

Stratasys’ Professional Services offering allows industry to advance manufacturing processes Stratasys and Stratasys Direct Manufacturing’s first-of-its-kind Professional Services offering allows manufacturers to maximize integration of 3D printing technologies and eliminate the unknowns. Professional Services consultants can help engineers, designers and management teams understand when and where to utilize 3D printing.Image credit: Business Wire Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, an indirect subsidiary of Stratasys, Ltd, provides unified expertise and consulting through the Professional Services group. This is the first offering of its kind from a 3D printing technology manufacturer and additive manufacturing services provider. While additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a disruptive technology, many large and small manufacturers need a way of identifying how and where to implement additive processes or quantify their impact. Professional Services enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to take advantage of 3D printing technologies across their organization’s lifecycle from prototyping to production parts. Services are available for engineers, designers and management teams to understand when and where to utilize 3D printing and how to integrate these advanced technologies into their production workflow. Ultimately, the knowledge helps manufacturers remain competitive and at the forefront of the industry. They can shorten the adoption cycle internally, improve productivity and product quality, and reduce the costs and constraints associated with traditional manufacturing through these services. “There’s a knowledge gap on how to advance manufacturing. We have the capabilities and expertise to close this gap because we understand traditional manufacturing and the 3D printing industry,” said Bob Wolter, Professional Services manager at Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. “While some manufacturers are unsure when or where to start incorporating 3D printing, others need additional expertise to maximize integration. We can help no matter where your organization is in the process. We take a technology-agnostic approach to consulting by providing you with all of the options, including those not offered by a Stratasys entity. You decide the best path for your organization.” The unified offering leverages expertise from both companies. From Stratasys, manufacturers benefit from the knowledge of the world leader in 3D printing, continually pushing the envelope of what’s possible with additive technologies. While from Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, customers benefit from 30 years of knowledge in additive and conventional manufacturing. This includes access to expertise for parts manufacturing across a wide array of additive manufacturing technologies, from people who make prototype and production parts every day. Stratasys Direct Manufacturing’s Professional Services groups supports OEMs at every step in the process, from tool identification to original design and optimization on the shop floor through production, packaging and logistics. No other company offers such comprehensive services and expert support. Australian Manufacturing

Dassault Systèmes Congratulates Solar Impulse on Historic Completion of its Round-the-World Aviation Journey Dassault Systèmes has congratulated the Solar Impulse team on the successful, historic completion of its round-the-world flight, flying 43,000 Kilometers, 558 Hours and 17 Flights without Fuel. Copyright Dassault Systèmes_SI2 Cockpit. Image Supplied. The Solar Impulse 2 aircraft landed in Abu Dhabi on July 26, 2016, the original starting destination of its 17-leg 43,000-km journey that began in March last year. “What an extraordinary experience to have witnessed the culmination of this 12-year design project and collaborative effort to build and fly an aircraft that many thought impossible,” said Bernard Charlès, Vice Chairman & CEO, Dassault Systèmes. “Daring to dream, pushing the limits of aviation, echoing the imaginative spirit of past pioneers … congratulations to pilots André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard and the entire Solar Impulse team for this milestone achievement—not just in aviation, but in demonstrating sustainable solutions for the future of our planet. Passion for innovation makes possible the impossible.” In a statement from Dassault Systems, the company revealed that the Solar Impulse team used “Engineered to Fly,” the dedicated industry solution experience based on Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, to create its solar-powered aircraft. Applications for 3D modeling of complex structures and composites, digital simulation and full data traceability also enabled the Solar Impulse team to virtually experience the aircraft in its operating environment before it embarked and successfully completed the voyage on the first attempt. Australian Manufacturing

ZEN Energy wins $1m battery storage for SA government owned buildings Adelaide-based solar and energy storage company ZEN Energy wins contract to install $1m of li-ion battery storage at three government-owned buildings in Adelaide. “The Art Gallery of South Australia – soon to have battery storage from ZEN EnergyImage credit: Amanda Slater/Flickr (Creative Commons)” ZEN Energy is best known for its solar installations in Australia. The company has installed several PV systems for commercial and residential customers. South Australia Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis announce that the company will take another significant step toward a carbon neutral future, winning the $1 million tender to install lithium-ion batteries at three sites around the city: the State Library of South Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia and Adelaide High School. The Minister said that these sites had been identified as priority project, offering the greatest potential for high demonstration value, low technical risks and opportunities to achieve energy cost savings through reducing maximum energy demand. The project will contribute to the development of ZEN Energy’s manufacturing centre at Tonsley, which is designing, manufacturing, factory testing and maintaining the ZEN Freedom Powerbank battery systems. SA’s Government-owned and leased buildings contribute more than 15 per cent of overall greenhouse gas emissions in the Adelaide City area. The Adelaide City Council is also contracting ZEN Energy, separately, to install a similar battery storage system at their council works depot. The benefits of battery storage systems includes emissions abatement, effective load management and reduced demand tariffs. “We are a state of abundant renewable energy capacity that produces very cheap power when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing,” Minister Koutsantonis said. He also stated that battery storage of renewable energy offers the possibility of capturing that power as it is generated and delivering cheap power around the clock, so advances in the technology for South Australia are very exciting. “This nation-leading initiative will demonstrate how battery storage can play a role in reducing the carbon footprint of large buildings and save governments money over time,” he added. “Battery storage represents one of the most exciting technological advances of our lifetime and what we are developing at Tonsley is at the global forefront,” said Richard Turner, Energy Founder and Director of Innovation. “These icon buildings will serve as an ideal showcase for the world-leading energy smarts we have in South Australia and the far reaching benefits battery storage provides for government, businesses and households,” he added. “Battery storage has transformed the renewable energy sector and opened up a whole new range of possibilities,” as stated by Adelaide Lord Mayor Martine Hesse. “The project will demonstrate how this technology can be used and encourage private building owners to establish similar systems, so they too can reap the benefits of low-cost, low-carbon energy.” Australian Manufacturing

Solar Impulse proves innovation, technology and pioneering mindset can address global challenges ABB alliance partner Solar Impulse completes round-the-world flight with zero fuel, showing we can run the world without consuming the earth. As a pioneering technology leader, ABB is putting this message into practice Solar Impulse has made history by completing the first ever round-the-world flight powered only by energy from the sun. The plane landed at its starting point in Abu Dhabi at 04:05 am local time, after a final leg of 48 hours and 37 minutes from Cairo. “This is a truly historic achievement, with tremendous symbolic significance,” said ABB CEO, Ulrich Spiesshofer. “It demonstrates clearly that with pioneering spirit and clean technologies, we can run the world without consuming the earth. On behalf of everyone at ABB, congratulations to Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg, and the rest of the Solar Impulse team. We are extremely proud to have been able to contribute to this remarkable project.” ABB forged the innovation and technology alliance with Solar Impulse because what the project has achieved in the air, ABB is doing on the ground, as a pioneer of power and automation technologies for 125 years in Switzerland. “It’s a historic first for renewable energy and clean technologies, not only for aviation”, said Solar Impulse pilot, initiator and chairman Bertrand Piccard, on arrival.” By combining their respective strengths, Solar Impulse and ABB were able to show how breakthrough innovation can be transformed into credible solutions, and how energy can be more efficiently produced, stored and used to create a cleaner world.” Solar Impulse co-founder, CEO and pilot André Borschberg confirmed the value of this partnership: “The mission would not have been possible without the expertise and support of ABB and other organizations that contributed to the project. As part of its innovation and technology alliance with Solar Impulse, ABB provided experts to support the mission, including engineers who served as embedded members of the ground crew throughout the round-the-world flight.” To attempt the round-the-world flight, Solar Impulse had to confront many of the challenges that ABB is solving on the ground for its customers, such as maximizing the power yield from solar cells, integrating renewable energy into the electricity distribution systems, and improving energy efficiency. During its flight around the world, Solar Impulse made stopovers on four continents (Asia, North America, Europe and Africa), and flew across two oceans (the Pacific and the Atlantic), as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Peninsula. On the way, it set several new aviation records, including that of the longest solo duration for an airplane (117 hours, 52 minutes) achieved by André Borschberg on the leg from Japan to Hawaii, and the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a solar airplane achieved by Bertrand Piccard. More information: ABB and Solar Impulse Video on the landing in Abu Dhabi More images Press Release by ABB Australia Australian Manufacturing

ABB alliance partner Solar Impulse completes round-the-world flight with zero fuel, showing we can run the world without consuming the earth. As a pioneering technology leader, ABB is putting this message into practice

Solar Impulse has made history by completing the first ever round-the-world flight powered only by energy from the sun. The plane landed at its starting point in Abu Dhabi at 04:05 am local time, after a final leg of 48 hours and 37 minutes from Cairo.

“This is a truly historic achievement, with tremendous symbolic significance,” said ABB CEO, Ulrich Spiesshofer. “It demonstrates clearly that with pioneering spirit and clean technologies, we can run the world without consuming the earth. On behalf of everyone at ABB, congratulations to Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg, and the rest of the Solar Impulse team. We are extremely proud to have been able to contribute to this remarkable project.”

ABB forged the innovation and technology alliance with Solar Impulse because what the project has achieved in the air, ABB is doing on the ground, as a pioneer of power and automation technologies for 125 years in Switzerland.

“It’s a historic first for renewable energy and clean technologies, not only for aviation”, said Solar Impulse pilot, initiator and chairman Bertrand Piccard, on arrival.” By combining their respective strengths, Solar Impulse and ABB were able to show how breakthrough innovation can be transformed into credible solutions, and how energy can be more efficiently produced, stored and used to create a cleaner world.”

Solar Impulse co-founder, CEO and pilot André Borschberg confirmed the value of this partnership: “The mission would not have been possible without the expertise and support of ABB and other organizations that contributed to the project. As part of its innovation and technology alliance with Solar Impulse, ABB provided experts to support the mission, including engineers who served as embedded members of the ground crew throughout the round-the-world flight.”

To attempt the round-the-world flight, Solar Impulse had to confront many of the challenges that ABB is solving on the ground for its customers, such as maximizing the power yield from solar cells, integrating renewable energy into the electricity distribution systems, and improving energy efficiency.

During its flight around the world, Solar Impulse made stopovers on four continents (Asia, North America, Europe and Africa), and flew across two oceans (the Pacific and the Atlantic), as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Peninsula. On the way, it set several new aviation records, including that of the longest solo duration for an airplane (117 hours, 52 minutes) achieved by André Borschberg on the leg from Japan to Hawaii, and the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a solar airplane achieved by Bertrand Piccard.

More information:

• ABB and Solar Impulse
• Video on the landing in Abu Dhabi
• More images

Press Release by ABB Australia

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RMIT researchers launch new high-speed rail and smart cities project Researchers from RMIT University organized a plan led by Consolidated Land and Rail Australia Ltd (CLARA) to address over-crowding by developing high-tech and sustainable cities between Melbourne and Sydney. Image credit: clara.com.au CLARA is a private group in Australia established to deliver a program to change the country. The project is thought to be the largest undertaking of its kind anywhere in the world. According to Martin Bean CBE, RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, “This is an exciting project that’s a perfect fit with RMIT’s strengths around technology, design and enterprise.” “Our researchers, teachers and students have a lot to offer this project and a lot to gain in return, whether it is through work-integrated learning projects or research projects.” Mr Martin Beam also stated that they’re already engaging in the Metro Rail project, Melbourne’s next big piece of strategic infrastructure. “Through our deep relationship with the UN Global Compact Cities Programme, RMIT has significant resources to contribute to the creation of brand-new smart cities along the train route. Our researchers have much to offer around questions of design, renewable energy, landscape regeneration, compact cities and entrepreneurship,” Mr Martin Beam added. The launch was addressed by two former state premiers, Steve Bracks from Victoria and Barry O’Farrell from NSW. There were also other speakers, including Nick Cleary, CLARA chair; the Mayor of Greater Shepparton, Councillor Dinny Adem; and representatives from GE, CSIRO and SGS. Dean of RMIT’s School of Media and Communication, Professor Martyn Hook, said “For the first time since Canberra over 100 years ago we get a chance to design an inland city with a sustainable, liveable, walkable urban future for a significant population, with the benefits of a rural Australian lifestyle.” “We will explore how a CLARA city might be planned, how it can generate its own power, harvest its own water and manage its own waste. We will seek to reveal how these new compact cities might embrace technology, form a sense of community that resists the car and foregrounds health and creativity as its core agenda.” To learn more about CLARA, visit http://clara.com.au/ Australian Manufacturing

Engineering students build a functional portable 3D printer Fourth year Mechanical Engineering students at the University of Leicester have created a portable, battery operated 3D printer. Image credit: www2.le.ac.uk They have made various mechanical adjustments to a portable 3D printer, allowing it to fold and fit in a hand luggage to make it transportable and took the power supply away so it can work even in the most remote areas in the world. According to Dr Alan Stocker, project supervisor and senior lecturer in the University’s Department of Engineering, “The design process was holistic and required lateral thinking throughout. The group was aided by computer-based modelling and stress simulations to ensure that the design choices that were made were suitable.” “The students were given a specific focus on sustainability to meet current industry regulations. With this in mind they included a load-sensor which allowed the user to precisely compare the amount of material required for a printing operation with the amount of material leftover. This addition meant that the user wasted fewer filaments which saves money and increases the emphasis on sustainability for the project,” he added. The team of students has already demonstrated its talents by printing a set of teeth and a screw bearing. They even printed a set of cutlery to show the principle in humanitarian situations. The printer is housed in two laminate foam layers within an MDF suitcase to protect it from transport damages and moisture. It can fold up and down, however, when folded down, the suitcase is easily transported and resembles a normal luggage case. “Working on this Portable 3D Printer has been an exciting learning experience and an extremely rewarding way to finish off four years of hard work,” said Nicholas Iland, a fourth year MEng student at the University of Leicester. “As a group, we hope that the University can put this printer to great use in the future and in particular for the second year engineering design competition where we know from experience that it could be of great use.” Australian Manufacturing

HINO AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES NEW PARTS AND SERVICE ADVANTAGES Hino is helping Australian businesses pay less over the long haul by offering fixed-price minor servicing on all Hino models and slashing the prices of service and maintenance parts. Image credit: hino.com.au Fixed-price minor servicing extends to all Euro 5-compliant Hino 300, 500 and 700 Series vehicles. Pricing for minor servicing now begins at $559 for the 300 Series (N04C), $669 for the 500 Series (J07E) and $869 for the 700 Series (E13 – FS, SS, SH). Fixed-priced minor servicing includes comprehensive vehicle inspection and diagnostic checks, engine oil and filter replacement, fuel filter replacement, vehicle greasing and tyre rotation by a professional factory-trained Hino service technician. Minor servicing intervals may vary between models and are outlined in the driver’s manual. On average, service and maintenance parts have been reduced by 24 per cent to provide truck operators and repairers with genuine factory-approved parts at an affordable price over non-genuine and counterfeit alternatives. Hino Australia offers a three-year unlimited kilometre warranty on Hino genuine parts when installed by an authorised Hino service technician. Hino Genuine fluids and filters are proven to have a quality and durability advantage over non-genuine alternatives and are guaranteed to fit and perform as intended by the manufacturer. Hino has placed customer satisfaction at the forefront of its suite of factory-offered business benefits, known collectively as Hino Advantage. Hino Australia general manager of product support Greg Bleasel said these additions to Hino Advantage will boost customer satisfaction, service retention and parts sales. “In a fluctuating global economy we believe both new and existing customers will appreciate the stability of fixed price servicing and the competitive parts pricing structure,” Mr Bleasel said. “As part of Hino Advantage, we’re driven to do more for our partners by offering these savings and providing stability in service pricing for their operations. “Making factory-backed minor servicing more affordable is part of the Hino Advantage to keep many businesses on the road for longer.” The Hino Advantage suite of services includes business benefits such as an extended five-year warranty, financial services, roadside assistance, fleet training, factory-trained dealership technicians, dedicated customer care centre and access to Hino Genuine parts and accessories. As a Toyota Group company, Hino also offers a group advantage to provide a One Toyota Service – Australia’s best managed and only truly complete fleet solution. Press Release by Hino Australia Australian Manufacturing

CSIRO appoints Dr Rob Grenfell as its new Director of Health and Biosecurity CSIRO has announced the appointment of Dr Rob Grenfell as the new Director of Health and Biosecurity. Image credit: http://www.csiro.au/ Aside from being responsible for CSIRO’s Health and Biosecurity group, Dr Grenfell will also be responsible for the organisation’s broader health strategy aimed at addressing “the critical health challenges facing Australia drawing on the organisation’s deep portfolio of expertise across e-health, biomedical manufacturing, nutrition, and One Health (linking human, animal and environmental health).” “Few challenges are more important than keeping our people healthy through an effective health system in the face of changing demographics, growing costs, new disease pressures, digital disruption, and increasing societal expectations,” said Dr Larry Marshall, CSIRO Chief Executive. “Rob joins an impressive leadership team who have already saved lives with data, reduced diabetes and obesity through diet, and developed vaccines for chronic diseases. Through deep collaboration with our leading universities, CSIRO’s One Health approach will address the biggest health challenges facing Australia, building a powerhouse of health innovation,” he said. Dr Grenfell was National Medical Director for Australia and New Zealand at healthcare provider Bupa before joining CSIRO. Before joining Bupa, he was the National Director Cardiovascular Health for the Heart Foundation. “No other organisation can say they have helped to create extended-wear contact lenses, created a vaccine for the Hendra virus, run Australia’s largest clinical telehealth trial, and created the first drug successful in treating flu,” said Dr Grenfell. “This makes CSIRO a unique organisation and valuable partner for delivering science with great purpose. This is a once in lifetime opportunity to shape the future of health in Australia and to build on CSIRO’s enviable track record for delivering technologies that enhance lives, add value to existing industries, and grow new industries.” Australian Manufacturing

Range International to list on ASX Range International, the leading recycled plastic pellet manufacturer, will list on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday 22 July following a successful initial public offering (IPO). Image credit: http://ift.tt/29X97O5 Founded in 2002, the company produces Re>PalTM pallets made from 100% recycled waste plastic. These affordable and durable pallets can be used instead of timber and virgin plastic pallets, saving waste plastic from going to landfill or entering the environment and reducing global deforestation. Range said the IPO closed on 6 July 2016, having raised AUD$50,000,000. It said the offer was underwritten by lead manager Morgans, attracting significant interest from institutional and retail investors, and was heavily oversubscribed. “The total number of new shares allotted from subscription through the IPO was 50,000,000 (ordinary shares), with new shareholders making up approximately 33% of holdings,” reads the press release. “At admission directors held approximately 19% of shares and have agreed to a voluntary escrow of 24 months.” The company’s Executive Chairman Stewart Hall congratulated the Board, advisers, staff and clients on the successful IPO. “This marks a key turning point in the trajectory of our company. Over the coming months we’ll have a number of exciting announcements to make as we move into our next phase of growth” Mr Hall said. “This IPO is about transitioning Range from a company focused on product development and customer trials to commercial scale production.” Company founder and Executive Director Matthew Darby said the global market for new pallets is expected to exceed 5 billion units globally in 2017. “The pallet industry’s timber consumption and the world’s growing volumes of plastic waste present both a significant threat to our environment and a tremendous opportunity,” he added. “This business is founded on the principle of ‘let’s change the way we look at our environment and apply sound commercial practices’. This is what Range is and it is what we hope to succeeded in doing, not just from an environmental perspective but also as a commercial operation. Around the world, too many trees are being cut down and too much plastic waste is going into landfill or ending up in our oceans. We are determined to change that.” Australian Manufacturing

Evolve Group embraces crowdfunding to release TRED Pro to retail heavyweights Brisbane-based product design and manufacturing firm Evolve Group has adopted a new crowdfunding business model to bring products to market. Evovle Group’s vehicle recovery product TRED Pro Image provided The crowdfunding model is commonly used by start-ups and not-for-profits, but has never before been used by successful and profitable business such as Evolve Group. The company’s Managing Director and founder Ty Hermans said the decision to turn to crowdfunding wasn’t purely a financial one, but based on wanting to build traction, consumer following and establish a strong market demand prior to the product’s release. He the successful crowdfunding campaign resulted is the release of its vehicle recovery product TRED Pro to retailers across Australia including Supercheap Auto, Autobarn and Autopro. “In November last year we launched on a crowdfunding site to bring the 4WD and off-road vehicle recovery tool, TRED Pro, to market,” Mr Hermans said. “By the end of the campaign we had raised more than 300 per cent above our original goal and the feedback we received helped refine the final version of the TRED Pro”. This is not the first time Evolve Group has abandoned the traditional product launch business model. Evolve recently successfully completed one of the world’s largest crowdfunding campaigns for the revolutionary Flow Hive, which won the 2016 Good Design Award of The Year at the annual Good Design awards in Sydney. Mr Hermans noted that while it was important to focus on designing a great product manufacturers also needed to embrace new methods like crowdfunding to build consumers’ appetites for the offering. “We are excited to see the TRED Pro appear in some of the biggest retailers in Australia and getting into the hands of four-wheel drive enthusiasts everywhere – giving them the perfect solution for safer vehicle recovery,” he said. Established in 2006, Evolve Group specialises in end-to-end product design, development and manufacturing at their purpose-built facility in Brisbane. In addition to the award win at the 2016 Good Design Awards, the company was also listed as one of BRW’s 50 most innovative companies of 2015. Australian Manufacturing

IMARC 2016 to put Melbourne on the mining spotlight The Andrews Labor Government has launched Australia’s leading mining business event, the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC), which will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7-10 November. Image provided IMARC 2016 will bring together global mining leaders with Victorian-based resources companies and those organisations supporting the mining sector, from training providers through to other professional services. Victoria is Australia’s largest exporter of mining equipment and technologies and home to the global headquarters of BHP Billiton, MMG, Oceanagold, Newcrest Mining, Alumina, Saint Barbara and Orica, as well as Rio Tinto’s Asia Pacific regional headquarters. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said IMARC 2016 will consolidate Victoria’s position as a global leader and hub for professional services and businesses in the mining sector. “The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Victoria’s leading mining sector to showcase their world class expertise and build new opportunities,” the Minister said. “This year’s conference will be the biggest yet, drawing more than 2,000 delegates from every corner of the globe.” This year’s conference will be part of the Victorian Invitation Program (VIP), the state’s biggest ever inbound trade mission which began in 2015 and brought almost 300 delegates from 24 countries to Victoria to network with local businesses. Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis said the VIP has attracted buyers and investors from the world’s largest markets to see firsthand the very best the state has to offer across key sectors including medical technology and pharmaceuticals, international education, professional services, retail, food and fibre and now mining. “Our targeted inbound trade missions, like the VIP, are bringing the world to our doorstep so that Victorian businesses have the opportunities needed to help them grow, create jobs and strengthen our state,” the Minister said. “I can’t think of a better platform than this conference to showcase Victoria’s mining sector to the world.” Last year, IMARC was attended by over 2100 delegates from 47 countries, including 19 international mining ministers and senior government officials. Australian Manufacturing

Markforged’s affordable industrial 3D printer arrives in Australia Australian businesses will now be able to get their hands on the first affordable industrial 3D printer in the country thanks to Aussie 3D, a 100% Australian-owned and operated company that aims to facilitate the next giant leap forward in the tech world. Image credit: markforged.com Aussie 3D is now the official distributor for Markforged, an American company that manufacturers the Mark two 3D printer which prints with Carbon Fibre, Onyx, Kevlar, High Temperature Fiberglas and Nylon. The Onyx filament is perfectly suited for all applications that demand a high-performance material due to its toughness of nylon, stiffness of a fibre reinforced plastic, and a heat deflection temperature of 145°C. A fusion of engineering nylon and chopped carbon fibre, Onyx is about 3.5 times stiffer than standard nylon and comes straight off the printer and ready to use in real world environments. Additionally, customers can use it with other high-strength fibres – carbon fibre, Kevlar, fibreglass, or HSHT fibreglass – to even further strengthen their parts. “With Onyx and composite fibres, the strength of your 3D printed parts can reach staggering levels, which is awesome,” read the press release on the PR Web. Kevlar has a high tensile strength to weight ratio which far exceeds that of steel and specialist metal alloys used in aerospace engineering. Because of this, it is used extensively in the manufacture of panels and wings for fighter jets, including the Eurofighter Typhoon. Kevlar is also used for the bodywork and petrol tank of Formula One racing cars, as well as in bulletproof vests, Tyers, fireproof clothing and boots. High Temperature (HSHT) Fibreglass is twice as strong as the standard fibreglass filament and has a 30% higher heat deflection temperature (HDT) at 150 C, while remaining a more affordable option than carbon fibre reinforcement. These high temperature materials properties are especially valuable for customers in the aerospace and automotive industries, who now have the material they need to develop “under the hood” 3D printed parts and components for higher temperature environments. Carbon fibre has the highest strength to weight as well as the highest thermal conductivity and is perfectly suited for applications requiring the greatest possible stiffness and strength. A Markforged Senior Application Engineer created a 3D printed fully functional carbon fibber hacksaw that he designed and printed on a Mark Two 3D printer. The hacksaw is reinforced with a carbon fibre zebra pattern to provide optimal rigidity for its intended use. Unlike Kevlar, which provides some flexibility when in use, the carbon fibre is an ideal choice for this part and best meets this part’s strength requirements. According to Aussie 3D, these next generation 3D printers start at $9999 ex GST. For more info, email info@aussie3d.com. Australian Manufacturing

CSIRO & Enirgi Group develop supersonic tech for production of low-cost magnesium CSIRO and Enirgi Group have teamed up to develop and commercialise an affordable and low-emission technology for producing magnesium metal. Wheel casting made out of lightweight magnesium metalImage credit: www.csiro.au The technology, dubbed ‘MagSonic,’ is said to produce magnesium using up to 80 percent less energy and up to 60 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions thanks to a supersonic nozzle. Once fully developed and commercialised, it is tipped to help reinvigorate the magnesium production industry in Australia as more and more car manufacturers turn to the metal as a solution for making lightweight, low-emission vehicles. CSIRO and Enirgi Group’s Innovation Division will work together to further develop and validate the MagSonic technology which could help Australia take advantage of its abundant reserves of magnesite ore that remain largely untapped. “The growth of magnesium use has been limited because it’s been too expensive and labour-intensive to produce the metal from ore using traditional processes,” said Dr Mark Cooksey, who leads CSIRO’s sustainable process engineering group. “Our MagSonic technology offers an economically-viable solution to overcome these issues and make clean magnesium more available and affordable to manufacturers. We’re delighted to be working with Enirgi Group as our technology and commercial partners, with their experience in developing new processes to disrupt and change industry dynamics.” According to CSIRO, MagSonic uses carbothermal reduction and a supersonic nozzle to efficiently produce high quality magnesium. It involves heating magnesia with carbon to extreme temperatures to produce magnesium vapour and carbon monoxide. The vapour and carbon monoxide are passed through a supersonic nozzle – similar to a rocket engine – at four times the speed of sound to cool the gases in milliseconds, condensing and solidifying the magnesium vapour to magnesium metal. “We are pleased to be working with CSIRO on this exciting opportunity to bring reliable supply of magnesium metal to the global market in an environmentally sustainable way,” Enirgi Group’s Vice President of Corporate Development, Anthony Deal said. “We are confident that this process is capable of commercial production. The flow-through benefits to emerging industries like electric vehicle manufacturing are enormous, not to mention a substantial reduction in carbon emissions when compared to current magnesium production processes.” Once the technology is ready for commercialisation, Enirgi Group has the option to take up an exclusive global license that would see the company initially build a commercial-scale magnesium production facility in Australia. Australian Manufacturing

Eleven automotive supply chain companies receive government funding to diversify 11 Victorian supply chain companies will share $243,000 in funding under the Automotive Supply Chain Transition Program (ASCTP). Image credit: www.business.gov.au The ASCTP, which is part of the Labor Government’s $46.5 million Automotive Transition Plan, was established to assist supply chain company diversify their businesses and identify new market opportunities following the impending closure of Ford, Holden and Toyota’s car manufacturing in Victoria. Minster for Industry and Employment, Wade Noonan said this round of ASCTP funding builds on the $222,000 already provided to nine automotive supply chain companies. “The Andrews Labor Government is targeting our assistance towards the many businesses in the auto supply chain who will be impacted by the closure of Ford, Holden and Toyota’s car manufacturing in Victoria,” the Minister said during his visit to auto supply business Belmatic Industries in Heidelberg West. “Funding is provided to support businesses to develop a transition plan and discover new opportunities to diversify and grow. Unlike the Liberals who abandoned the auto industry, Labor is working hard to minimise the impact on businesses, workers and their families.” Companies that will receive assistance under the ASCTP include: Precision Plating, Burwood ACE Wire Works, Hallam Premcar, Campbellfield Guhring, Oakleigh South Aunde Australia, Stawell Palm Products, Moorabbin GTS Industries, Dandenong Ceramet, Delacombe Perroplas Australia, Braeside Belmatic Industries, Heidelberg West OzPress, Wendouree Companies wishing to apply for ASTCP assistance, or specialist companies seeking to deliver transition projects for the program, can do so at: http://ift.tt/1RHEYR0. Australian Manufacturing

Thiess to perform mining services at Rio Tinto-led project CIMIC Group’s global mining contractor, Thiess, in joint venture with local contractor Khishig Arvin, has won the first underground decline project at the Rio Tinto-operated Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project in Mongolia’s southern Gobi desert. Image credit: www.thiess.com The contract is valued at approximately $130 million, of which Thiess’ share is 80%. Commenting on the contract award, CIMIC Executive Chairman Marcelino Fernández Verdes said it includes the construction of a box cut and development of twin declines, incorporating both a service and a conveyor tunnel. “This project is key to unlocking Oyu Tolgoi’s potential and is a great addition to Thiess’ diverse mining portfolio,” he added. Thiess Managing Director Michael Wright said work will commence later this month and is scheduled for completion in 2020. “The combination of our underground development expertise and ability to leverage our experienced Mongolia-based team provides us with the foundations for success,” Mr Wright noted. “We are proud to facilitate the growth of a world-class copper and gold operation and deliver long-term solutions at Oyu Tolgoi. Building local capability is integral to our approach and, with the assistance of our partnership with Khishig Arvin, more than 90% of our workforce will be Mongolian personnel. ” The Oyu Tolgoi mine is owned by the Government of Mongolia (34%) and Turquoise Hill Resources (66%, of which Rio Tinto owns 51%). Australian Manufacturing

Researchers build “biohybrid” robot from sea slug muscles and 3D printed body Researchers from Case Western Reserve University have built a crawling robot by combining 3D printed parts and sea slug materials. Image credit: http://ift.tt/29T9ERp Although this biohybrid robot is quite slow now, the potential it holds is amazing. For now, it crawls like a turtle on sand, but in the future, swarms of these robots can be deployed in bodies of water to complete a variety of tasks. The scientists combined materials from the California sea slug, Aplysia californica, with three-dimensional printed parts; a muscle from the slug’s mouth helps the robot to move, while the robot’s organic “scaffold” is built from manipulated collagen from the slug’s skin. Movement is controlled by an external electrical field. This particular sea slug was chosen because it is durable down to its cells, “withstanding substantial changes in temperature, salinity and more as Pacific Ocean tides shift its environment between deep water and shallow pools.” “We’re building a living machine—a biohybrid robot that’s not completely organic—yet,” said Victoria Webster, a PhD student who is leading the research. For the searching tasks, “we want the robots to be compliant, to interact with the environment,” Webster said. “One of the problems with traditional robotics, especially on the small scale, is that actuators—the units that provide movement—tend to be rigid.” According to the researchers, the project is still in its infancy, but great things could come out of this work. In time, they hope to develop fully organic robots that can move in response to a series of easy signals. These robots won’t cost much, will be able to go on lengthy missions and they won’t pollute the location with metals and battery chemicals, but will be eaten or degrade into compost. The team of scientists will present their work at the Living Machines conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. Australian Manufacturing

Government greenlights Victoria’s largest windfarm The Andrews Labor Government has greenlighted the construction of a $650 million windfarm near Dundonnell in Victoria’s South West. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1oBNQfi The 96-turbin windfarm will be the state’s largest and will generate 1,000 Gwh of clean energy per year, which is enough to power about 140,000 households. The project will also result in dramatic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to estimates, the windfarm will save approximately 700,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, which is the equivalent of removing 170,000 cars from traffic. Victorian Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said the permit approval follows a thorough Environment Effects Statement process that recommended conditions to minimise impacts on wildlife, such as reducing overall turbine numbers and buffer zones around wetlands. “The Andrews Labor Government streamlined windfarm approvals early last year, which has revived Victoria’s renewable industry after the Liberals almost killed it,” he said. “Windfarms are expected to attract $35 billion worth of investment nationally by 2020, which is great for jobs, the environment and protecting our way of life.” Premier Daniel Andrews said the project will create 300 direct and indirect jobs during construction and up to 16 positions when operational. “There’s nothing ugly about windfarms, because there’s nothing ugly about jobs,” the Premier said, adding that the project will significantly improve Victoria’s position to better deal with climate change challenges. “The world is shifting to renewable energy and Victoria can’t get left behind.” Australian Manufacturing

HanesBrands wraps up acquisition of Pacific Brands HanesBrands has completed the acquisition of Pacific Brands Limited, the leading underwear and intimate apparel company in Australia. Image credit: http://ift.tt/Md5q7Q The acquisition will significantly enrich HanesBrands’ worldwide portfolio of leading innerwear brands with the addition of Bonds, Australia’s top brand of underwear, babywear and socks, and Berlei, the country’s No. 1 sports bra brand and leading seller of premium bras in department stores. The transaction is valued at approximately US$800 million on an enterprise-value basis, or slightly more than 10 times projected calendar 2016 EBITDA. “Pacific Brands with its iconic century-old and fast-growing Bonds brand is a great addition to our strong market-leading portfolio spanning the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific that is supported by a world-class company-owned global supply chain,” said Hanes Chief Operating Officer and CEO-Elect Gerald W. Evans Jr. “We are adding a top-notch management and marketing team led by CEO David Bortolussi that will help serve as a catalyst for continued growth and value creation into the foreseeable future.” The Pacific Brands acquisition is the second that Hanes has completed in the past two weeks and the sixth in the past three years. On 30 June 2016, the company acquired Champion Europe, the Italy-based company which owns the trademark for Champion Brand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Pacific Brands has three business units – Underwear, Sheridan, and Tontine & Dunlop Flooring. It sells wholesale to retailers and operates approximately 325 Bonds and Sheridan retail stores and retailer shop-in-shops. Hanes said it intends to divest the noncore Tontine pillow business and Dunlop Flooring business. “The acquisition is expected to result in significant savings through the use of Hanes’ large-scale, low-cost global supply chain,” Hanes said in a press release. “Pacific Brands sources the significant majority of its underwear and intimate apparel production from third-party manufacturers, while Hanes relies primarily on company-owned manufacturing. The acquisition also adds to Hanes’ global product design, development and innovation capabilities that span the Americas, Europe and the Pacific Rim.” Australian Manufacturing

Amcor expands capability of its Milwaukee facility Amcor Flexibles Americas (AFA) has announced the addition of a new press in Milwaukee that will allow flexographic printing, gravure coating and slitting to occur in a single pass. Image credit: Amcor website Chris Cosgrove, VP and General Manager, Amcor Flexibles Americas, said the additional capacity from the press and slitter will support demand for high-quality coated healthcare grade paper and film. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to continue to support the needs of our medical customers with the best coated products to meet the demanding needs of medical device manufacturers,” Mr Cosgrove said. “With this expansion our Milwaukee facility is perfectly poised to deliver the value and service that our customers have come to expect.” Brad Nasgovitz, General Manager, Milwaukee said the “stunning simplicity” of the MP4 Press will allow the company to offer better performance at a competitive cost for its customers. “Our team is working tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition for our customers,” Mr Nasgovitz added. “We understand the regulatory requirements and rigor required for any changes within this landscape and take our responsibilities very seriously. Through partnership with our customers, we are ensuring this new equipment will meet all their requirements with the added benefit of providing additional supply redundancy.” AFA is a division of Amcor, the world’s largest supplier of flexible packaging. With 16 plants in 7 countries, the company delivers innovative packaging solutions and provides enhanced quality products for the food, beverage, pharma, personal care, medical and industrial markets. Australian Manufacturing

Fastbrick Robotics commences construction of Hadrian X Fastbrick Robotics Limited (FBR) has reached another significant milestone in its effort to revolutionise the construction industry with the commencement of construction of the Hadrian X commercial prototype. Image credit: www.fbr.com.au The Hadrian X, which was developed following the success of the company’s automated brick laying technology demonstrator, the Hadrian 105, is the next evolution in construction automation, with up to 1,000 standard brick equivalents per hour being delivered over a 30m boom from a single position on site. According to the company, unlike the Hadrian 105, the Hadrian X will be road-capable, truck mounted machine with a folding 30 metre boom that will enable maximum mobility and minimum workforce footprint. “The commencement of construction of the Hadrian X is another significant milestone for a team that is breaking new ground every day,” said Fastbrick CEO Mike Pivac. “We are a frontier technology company, and we’re one step closer to bringing fully automated, end-to-end 3D printing brick construction into the mainstream. We’re very excited to be taking the world-first technology we proved with the Hadrian 105 demonstrator and manufacturing state-of-the-art machine using latest componentry.” The Hadrian X will utilise a construction adhesive rather than traditional mortar to maximise the speed of the build and the strength and thermal efficiency of the finished structure, while at the same time minimising the impact of weather condition in the construction process. It will also be able to handle different brick sizes, and will complete all of the cutting, grinding, milling and routing of the bricks prior to laying, so that the structure is ready for first fixing immediately after the machine moves offsite. “Fastbrick’s add-on for the widely used SOLIDWORKS ™ 3D CAD software, called The Architectural Designer, or TAD, is a powerful tool that drives the capabilities of the Hadrian X,” the company said in a press release. “The accuracy achieved by the Hadrian X in building from a 3D CAD file will provide significant time and cost savings, by allowing other trades to manufacture components of the new structure in parallel with the bricklaying, rather than having to wait to measure the brickwork.” FBR said that Hadrian X, to be constructed by its specialist engineering team at the Perth workshop, has already attracted significant commercial interest from major construction companies and machine manufacturers across the world. Australian Manufacturing

US battery manufacturers to trial Nano-Nouvelle’s innovative 3D nanotechnology Australian battery technology company Nano-Nouvelle has contracted two specialist US manufacturers to test how its groundbreaking 3D nanotechnology can improve their battery performance. Image credit: nanonouvelle.com.au The companies, which manufacture high performance batteries for specialised industries such as aerospace, will test how Nano-Nouvelle’s Nanode nanomaterials work with their batteries. Nano-Nouvelle CEO Stephanie Moroz said these high performance battery manufacturers were ideal partners for the company’s technology. “They provide a great initial entry point for us. It’s hard to go from zero to high volume production, however Nano-Nouvelle is in a good position to support field trials by specialist companies, which work at smaller volumes, are less cost sensitive and are incredibly focussed on improving the performance of their batteries,” she said. “As Tesla proved with its Roadster EV sportscar, this sort of low-volume, high-margin starting point can provide a high visibility platform to demonstrate the benefits of innovative technology, which can accelerate its adoption by mass market manufacturers.” Nano-Nouvelle is developing groundbreaking nanotechnology that can increase the energy storage capacity of lithium ion batteries by as much as 50%. Ms Moroz , who met the with executives from the two companies at the 18th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, said the company’s focus has now shifted towards maximising energy capacity and performance lifetime for batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), which last year passed the one million car milestone globally. “Whereas two years ago, it was mainly about portable electronics and wearables, the focus is now on batteries for EVs and energy storage,” she said. “People want to drive EVs and put energy storage batteries in their homes, but the delay between a scientific breakthrough and a commercial product can take as long as 10 years. The good news for us from this conference is that the battery industry has stopped chasing blue sky technologies to focus on improving lithium ion performance, which is where our products can deliver real value.” The company’s core technology, the Nanode, overcomes the current limitations of high energy and high power batteries by using nanotechnology to create a conductive membrane with complex 3D surfaces. This patent-protected technology pushes the boundaries of high performance battery electrodes, effectively laying the foundation for a new generation of high capacity batteries. Ms Moroz said Nano-Nouvelle was already working with specialist battery manufacturers and mass market companies to demonstrate that its technology not only improved battery performance, but could also be deployed easily into existing production systems. “We’re looking to make it plug and play for battery manufacturers,” she said. “Our goal is for them to take our electrode, match it with their other components and run it through their standard assembly processes. While they end up making higher performance batteries, the actual production deployment will require minimal effort on their part.” Australian Manufacturing

LG Chem unveils new home storage series with 48V and 400V models Leading lithium-ion batteries manufacturer LG Chem has introduced its next generation residential battery storage system with a newly developed battery cell as the centrepiece. Image credit: LG Chem Facebook page To meet energy requirements of photovoltaic systems users in Australia and New Zealand, LG Chem now offers low-voltage variants (48V) and for the first time high-voltage variations (400V). Changhwan Choi, Manager for Australian Business Development said the launch of the new RESU series in the Australian market comes after strong momentum in Germany where the LG Chem RESU series won the ESS award 2016 at Intersolar Europe, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry, for its innovation and design. “We are delighted to launch the new RESU series in the ANZ market,” Mr Choi said. “There is a massive sustainability potential that is yet to be unlocked if Australia wants to be 100 percent powered by renewable energy. With the end of feed-in-tariffs at our doorstep our new RESU series range offers an efficient system to meet every need.” The high-voltage battery systems (RESU7H and RESU10H) have the capacities to generate 7 to 9.8 kWh, whereas the low-voltage battery systems (RESU3.3, RESU6.5 and RESU10) are capable of generating from 3.3 to 9.8 kWh. Mr Choi said the new high-voltage models provide a variety of inverters that consumers can select in order to convert solar DC into usable AC. He said the high-voltage battery systems enable numerous additional combinations of home storage and inverter, with which consumers can leverage the full potential of their photovoltaic system. “The modular design of the new RESU models brings heightened flexibility. If a user chooses to expand its photovoltaic system, the capacity of the storage system can also be adjusted accordingly,” Mr Choi explained. “For the first time, the new RESU series covers a complete range of inverter concepts in the market. Whether high or low-voltage, single or three phase, the new product line-up opens up the possibilities to create an optimised system for each users’ individual energy consumption needs.” The new systems are both lighter and smaller than previous models. For example, the model RESU 6.5 falls four centimetres flatter than the comparable RESU 6.4 EX and weighs in at eight kilograms less. According to the press release on the PR Wire, all models are available in silver and champagne gold, and can be installed and configured outside the house thanks to their IP55-certified, waterproof casing. Australian Manufacturing

Tasmanian Manufacturing Centre of Excellence opens in Burnie Minister for Education and Training, Mr Jeremy Rockliff has officially opened the Tasmanian Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Burnie. Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net User: renjith krishnan The new centre – to be housed in the former TasTAFE building in South Burnie for a period of three years – will be focusing on innovation, research and collaboration to support the sector along the continuing path of global competitiveness. Mr Rockliff said the realisation of this industry-led initiative demonstrated the Hodgman Liberal Government’s on-going commitment to growing Tasmania’s manufacturing industry as outlined in the Tasmanian Advanced Manufacturing Action Plan. “The opening of the Tasmanian Manufacturing Centre of Excellence delivers on the Tasmanian Government’s commitment in the recently released Tasmanian Advanced Manufacturing Action Plan for greater representation, collaboration and support to the manufacturing sector in the state,” the Minister said. He said the Centre will be operated and managed by the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council, which received $400,000 in support from the Tasmanian Liberal Government through the Caterpillar Transition Taskforce. “The building will incorporate organisations that have expressed an interest in co-locating and utilising the facility including the CSIRO, Ai Group, UTAS and the Collab Lab,” Mr Rockliff added. “The Elphinstone Group (Aust) will own and operate the simulated work environment (SWE), the largest in the southern hemisphere. This will be available for industry and the community to undertake LEAN and continuous improvement training.” Australian Manufacturing

Samarco to stay shut, BHP to cut 40% of workforce via voluntary redundancies BHP Billiton has announced that it plans to cut 40% of its workforce at the Samarco iron ore operation in Brazil through voluntary redundancies. Image credit: bhpbilliton.comBHP The company has confirmed that operations will not restart this year, but as soon as all regulatory approvals are in place and accepted by all relevant authorities and communities. “Samarco employees and members of affected communities have been working incredibly hard to deliver the remediation projects in the Framework Agreement and over 90 per cent of the projects have been initiated,” said Dean Dalla Valle, BHP Billiton’s Chief Commercial Officer. “There is still much to be done to rebuild and restore but we believe that working with Vale, Samarco and the Brazilian authorities we will be able to deliver on the commitments under the Agreement and we will do what’s right.” According to the latest issued update, the company also plans to appeal the $8 billion public claim. “Samarco and its shareholders believe that the Framework Agreement provides a science-based, participatory and long-term framework for responding to the impact of the Samarco tragedy,” the company said. “Samarco has commenced discussions with employees to adjust the workforce in line with expected production levels, as outlined in Samarco’s plans for the mine that are progressing through the relevant approvals. This is expected to see around 40 per cent of the workforce choose to accept voluntary redundancies.” On November 5th of last year, two dams at the Brazilian mine owned by the world’s largest miner collapsed, killing 19 people and leaving hundreds homeless. BHP and Vale planned to restart the operation this year but clean-up efforts and compensation proposals apparently got in the way. Australian Manufacturing

Evonik to introduce new customised powder materials to the market for HP Multi Jet Fusion™ technology A specialty chemicals company from Germany, Evonik, has been selected to take part in HP Inc.’s Open Platform program. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2a1Q8V9 As a result of being included in HP Inc.’s Open Platform program, Evonik said that it expects to see further development in additive manufacturing technologies in the direction of large-scale production of components, such as those used in the automotive and aircraft industries. “HP’s Multi Jet Fusion™ technology opens up new 3D printing applications and, in doing so, creates the basis for researching new materials for the future,” said Dr Matthias Kottenhahn, head of Evonik’s High Performance Polymers Business Line. Evonik has been working on the development of special polymer materials that enable the industrial manufacture of high-tech components in 3D printing. “The polyamide 12-based powders from the VESTOSINT® brand enable outstanding processing quality and are designed to suit the 3D printing technology profile of properties perfectly,” Evonik states. The company manufactures the modified polyamide-based powder at its Marl site in Germany where it relies on its own special manufacturing process. As part of its expansion strategy, Evonik announced that it will add a new production line which is scheduled to start operations at the end of 2017. Australian Manufacturing

ABB wins Geneva e-bus tech deal Leading global technology company has won its first order for the 15-sec flash charging technology used in electric vehicles. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2affUkF The company announced that it has been awarded orders totalling over $16 million by Transports Publics Genevois (TPG), Geneva’s public transport operator, and Swiss bus manufacturer HESS, to provide flash charging and on-board electric vehicle technology for 12 TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation Systeme Alimentation) fully electric buses (e-buses). This will be the world’s fastest flash-charging connection technology as it takes less than 1 second to connect the bus to the charging point. Image credit: http://ift.tt/2affUkF According to the official announcement, the company will deploy 13 flash-charging stations along an urban transit bus route, as well as three terminal and four depot feeding stations. “We are proud of this breakthrough technology to support Geneva’s vision of providing a silent and zero-emission urban mass transportation for the city. It provides a model for future urban transport and reinforces our vision of sustainable mobility for a better world” said Claudio Facchin, President of ABB’s Power Grids division. “As part of our Next Level strategy, we are committed to developing customer-focused solutions and technologies that help lower environmental impact.” he high-capacity articulated buses will be fully commissioned in 2018. ABB will also supply 12 flexible drivetrain solutions for the buses including integrated traction and auxiliary converters, roof-mounted battery units and energy transfer systems (ETS), as well as permanent magnet traction motors. “The deployment of TOSA on Line 23 is the result of the collaborative efforts of the public and private sector partners who invested in this vision. This innovative project opens the way for the future of mobility, by providing a sustainable and environmentally-friendly mass transport solution for the well-being of our community,” said Luc Barthassat, Geneva’s State Councillor for Transport and Environment. Australian Manufacturing

Australian employment grew by 0.07 per cent in June according to ABS According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) latest figures, employment in the country grew by 0.07 per cent in June. Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net User: Vichaya Kiatying-Angsuleegra Trend employment increased by 8,300 persons to 11,933,400 persons, trend full-time employment increased by 700 persons, while part-time employment increased by 7,600 persons. “The figures show that hours worked by employed people declined, but not by as much as in previous months. This reflects the small increase in trend employment. We are yet to see an increase in hours worked in 2016,” said General Manager of the ABS’ Macroeconomic Statistics Division, Bruce Hockman. “Trend series smooth the more volatile seasonally adjusted estimates and provide the best measure of the underlying behaviour of the labour market.” South Australia’s headline unemployment rate rose by 0.2 per cent to 7.0 per cent. Tasmania’s unemployment rate remains steady at 6.5 percent, while Victoria’s unemployment rate fell to 5.7 per cent in June. “Since the Andrews Labor Government came to power, an extra 147,400 people are in gainful employment – these figures show how successful this Government is in creating jobs and bolstering our State. This Government is investing in Victoria to build a strong economy and in turn driving job growth – which means more opportunities for all Victorians,” said Acting Treasurer Gavin Jennings in a media release. ”What these figures show is that the Andrews Labor Government is continuing to grow the Victorian economy, creating jobs and opportunities for Victorians. There have now been far more jobs created in the 18 months since we came to power than the Liberal Government managed to achieve in four slow years,” added Minister for Employment Wade Noonan. Northern Territory’s unemployment rate fell to 3.7 per cent. “Northern Territory employment increased 0.5 per cent by 700 people to 134,460. Labour force participation in the Territory increased by 0.2 per cent to 74.8 per cent, which is the highest in Australia. The national labour force participation rate was unchanged at 64.8 per cent,” said Chief Minister Adam Giles. According to Treasurer Curtis Pitt, the rise in Queensland’s trend and seasonally adjusted jobless rates of 6.5% for June 2016 reflect the basically stagnant national figures. “Nationally the trend jobless rate stayed at 5.7 per cent and the seasonally adjusted figure for June of 5.8 per cent was 0.1 per cent higher than in May,” he said. “The lengthy federal election campaign has certainly created a period of uncertainty for businesses. Both state and federal governments have roles to play in creating jobs and helping people enter the work force.” Australian Manufacturing

Sika opens new manufacturing plant in Western Australia Leading specialty chemical company Sika has opened a new production plant in Bibra Lake near Perth that will increase capacities for concrete admixtures and synthetic fibres, improve finished goods warehousing and logistics and accommodate future mortar production facilities. Image credit: Sika Australia Facebook page General Manager Miljan Gutovic said the new Bibra Lake site – which combines two existing plants and three regional warehouses – will strengthen the company’s presence on Australia’s west coast and lay the foundations for further growth in this region. “The new production and logistic site on the Australian west coast will allow us to optimise manufacturing processes and logistics, capitalise on synergy potential and increase production volumes,” Mr Gutovic said. “By developing and expanding the product portfolio, we are responding to the strong demand from our customers in Western Australia and consequently implement our Strategy 2018.” The last five years have seen Sika experience strong double-digit organic growth in Australia. To support this growth and expand its manufacturing footprint and product range, Sika also acquired two local companies: Radmix Resources in 2013 and CTA in 2015. More recently, the company was contracted to supply product technologies for the CHF 1.5 billion State Government-funded Forrestfield-Airport Link, which involves construction of a new rail line, including two eight-kilometre tunnels that will improve connections to and from Perth Airport, the eastern suburbs and regional centres. Sika said that its new plant in Western Australia puts the company in a strong position to support the railway project by providing an extensive range of concrete admixtures and waterproofing technologies and technical service. Australian Manufacturing

BlueScope forecasts full year underlying EBIT lift to $570 million BlueScope announced that its preliminary unaudited underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the year ended 30 June 2016 is expected to be around $570 million. Image: http://ift.tt/1hRRhqE According to the company, underlying EBIT in the second half is expected to be around $340 million, compared with prior guidance of around $270 million. The steel maker attributed the improved performance to the higher margins across its international businesses – in particular North Star and Steelscape – and the turnaround in Asian region steel prices and their favourable impact on estimated year-end inventory net realisable value provisions in Australia. The company also informed that its net debt has been reduced by approximately $600 million, mainly due to improved operating cash flow. “Preliminary unaudited net debt at 30 June 2016 is expected to be around $780 million, or a multiple of 0.8 times expected pro-forma FY2016 underlying EBITDA2,” BlueScope said in a statement. “The reduction of around $593 million from 31 December 2015 was primarily driven by strong operating cash flow; this benefited from $100 million of favourable timing of year end cash flows and $105 million from sale of receivables.” The company’s financial results for the full year ending June 30, 2016 will be released on August 22. Australian Manufacturing

Alexium to provide eco-friendly chemical solution for global tent supplier Perth-based specialty chemicals development company Alexium International has received a production order from a major international textile finisher and supplier of tents for its proprietary environmentally-friendly flame retardant chemistry. Image credit: alexiuminternational.com “Purchase orders have already been received and production will commence with this new client, and once the full transaction to Alexium chemistry is complete, the expected life cycle for production is seven years with ongoing monthly revenue of at least $150,000 (depending on fluctuating demand),” the company told the ASX. Vice President of Sales Michael Schwartz said the agreement with the new customer – a supplier of tents to the United Nations for humanitarian efforts – was the result of a six-month collaborative efforts between the two parties. He said that following an extensive R&D development, Alexium was able to produce a customised, environmentally friendly chemical solution for the client’s natural fibre tent fabric that meets flame retardant specifications and passes stringent durability tests. “We are very pleased with the continued growth of our portfolio,” Mr Schwartz said. “This partnership with this supplier of tents to the United Nations is in keeping with our mission to provide safe, environmentally friendly products to customers and businesses on a global basis.” The new customers is also Alexium’s first client supplying 100% cotton goods, a market segment that has not seen significant innovation in decades. Alexium’s President Dirk Van Hyning said the new client addition furthers the company’s expansion into innovative chemistries for outdoor fabrics and strengthens its profile in that sector. “The size of this customer relationship, although smaller than others in the portfolio, represents long term, sustainable revenue for Alexium,” Mr Hyning added. “We are on growth trajectory for an end of year ramp-up and confident in our goals for calendar year 2016.” Australian Manufacturing

Geli to establish regional hub in Australia to encourage investments in renewable energy Geli, a leading supplier of design, automation, and management software for the energy storage industry, has announced a US$3 million investment from the Southern Cross Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund (REVC), which is backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Softbank China Venture Capital (SBCVC). Image credit: Geli Twitter page The Silicon Valley startup will use the capital to establish a regional hub in Australia in order to expand its operations in the Asia-Pacific region and encourage more businesses and households to invest in renewable energy. Geli’s platform enables industry stakeholders to quickly determine the optimal solar-plus-storage solution for many different uses and will automate systems in the field with the same algorithms used in the design process. Acting ARENA CEO Ian Kay said Geli’s software platform can bring energy storage together with different sources of electricity generation, operating them as efficiently as possible and achieving cost savings. He said that as battery storage became more prolific in Australia, effective software tools would become increasingly important. “There is an abundance of unused space on office, warehouse and factory rooftops around Australia where new solar panels could be installed. Many companies have also already invested in solar, and would benefit from adding storage,” Mr Kay said. “Geli’s solution will give customers more value from their solar and storage systems, and could present a compelling case for more Australian businesses to invest in renewable energy.” Geli’s CEO Dan Loflin said one of the company’s core differentiators was its ability to easily integrate new hardware and energy applications onto the Geli platform. “Our partners have recognised the ability to boost thin PV project returns by integrating storage and other energy assets,” Mr Loflinn noted. “This investment by Southern Cross REVC enables us to rapidly expand the breadth of integration partnerships with both hardware and software players.” Scull, Managing Director at Southern Cross REVC, said adding energy storage managed by Geli software to a solar PV system provides the ability to store and dispatch energy when it is needed most, such as at night or during periods of peak customer demand. According to him, traditionally strong solar markets such as Australia have grid compensation (or feed in tariff) policies that now favour the use of Geli’s platform. “The market pull for software solutions like Geli’s is growing rapidly. By virtue of being a pure-play software company, Geli is able to work with many of the most well-known names in the industry, enabling them to deliver solutions tailored to their clients’ needs,” Mr Scull concluded. Australian Manufacturing

CSIRO & Padula Serums develop snakebite antivenom for man’s best friend The CSIRO has teamed up with Padula Serums to develop effective and low cost antivenom to treat dogs for snake bites. Image credit: www.csiro.au Australia is home to some of the most venomous snakes in the world and the new antivenom – which will treat Eastern Brown and Tiger snake bites – is expected to save thousands of dogs each year. Dr Andrew Padula of Padula Serums – a small biotech company in regional Victoria – said that working with CSIRO helped turn his idea into a reality. “I’ve been working on antivenom serums for dogs and cats for a while now but I really needed the expert equipment and skills of the CSIRO scientists to make the best product possible,” he said. Professor George Lovrecz from CSIRO’s manufacturing team said the new process was much more effective than those available on the market as it is distilled and concentrated to create a pure, fully-tested antivenom which is ready to be injected into snake-bitten dogs. “We used the latest technologies to make sure that the anti-venom is not only safe and effective but it’s also a lot cheaper to produce compared to existing products,” he said. CSIRO said the new treatment could also be used for treating humans for snake bites or against toxins and ticks, adding that its scientists are also researching the possibility of using a similar approach to treat viruses like Ebola. The antivenom will be available on the market and stoked by vets around the country as soon as final testing is completed and the product is approved for sale by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Australian Manufacturing

XTEK wins ADF contracts worth $2m Australia’s homeland security specialist XTEK Limited has been awarded a number of Australian Defence Force (ADF) purchase orders valued at $2 million. Image credit: www.xtek.net XTEK said the contract covers the manufacture and supply of components and ancillary parts for the Blaser Tactical 2 Long Range Weapons System, a long range precision rifle used by the ADF. “Under the contracts, XTEK will upgrade the existing fleet of weapons, supply additional weapon systems and provide spare parts for the total fleet of weapons,” XTEK told the ASX. XTEK Chairman Uwe Boettcher said the ADF orders position the company as a leader in the design and manufacture of value added security and tactical components and systems for Australian Law Enforcement and Military Agencies. “These orders demonstrate the commitment of XTEK and its suppliers to increasing Australian Industry Content to deliver world-class solutions to the ADF and other security forces in this country,” Mr Boettcher said. “The 2017 financial year is shaping up to be a period of growth for our Company and we are anticipating further contract wins in the coming months.” Australian Manufacturing

Mercedes-Benz Trucks to utilise 3D printing for spare parts production Mercedes-Benz Trucks is using the latest 3D printing processes for plastic spare parts as the standard production method in the Customer Services & Parts sector. Image credit: wedia.daimler.com The company said that as of September, 30 genuine spare parts can be ordered and supplied at the press of a button from the 3D printer, quickly, economically, in any quantity and always in consistent genuine manufacturer’s quality. Andreas Deuschle, Head of Marketing & Operations in the Customer Services & Parts Mercedes-Benz Trucks Division said the company is taking on the pioneering role and technological leadership among the global truck producers with the adoption 3D printing technology as an innovative state-of-the-art production process in after-sales. “In keeping with our brand promise ‘Trucks you can trust’, we set the same benchmarks for reliability, functionality, durability and economy for spare parts from 3D production as for parts from conventional production” Mr Deuschle said. “However, 3D offers many more possibilities; this is why we shall be rapidly extending the production of 3D printed parts.” He said more than 100 000 printed prototype parts are manufactured for the individual Daimler divisions every year. “We benefit from our extensive experience at Daimler with 3D printing processes in prototype construction” Mr Deuschle added. “The available spare parts consist of high-quality plastic components. Covers, spacers, spring caps, air and cable ducts, clamps, mountings and control elements are just a few examples of economical spare part production in top quality made possible by using the 3D printing process.” According to the press release by Daimler, the “printed” spare parts are created with state-of-the-art 3D printers based on the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing process. “For the high quality standards of Mercedes-Benz Trucks the process parameters have been optimised and determined by the Daimler research and development divisions,” reads the press release. “Every 3D spare part can be ordered by the customer using the special spare part number under which it is recorded in the order code lists and the spare parts catalogues at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.” Daimler said that the environmentally friendly and resource-conserving 3D printing process is also addressing the challenge of securing supply even for model series which are no longer produced. “This means that the range also includes spare parts for which there is only a low demand in small quantities every year,” it says in the press release. “Producing them is thus increasingly uneconomical for suppliers – production facilities and tools often have to be retained and maintained for years. With the 3D printing process these challenges are a thing of the past. For every 3D spare part is available on demand at short notice all over the world.” Australian Manufacturing

RMIT-led collaboration discovers new form of silicene that could revolutionise electronics industry A collaboration between RMIT, the Toyota Central R&D Laboratories and Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has led to discovery of a new form of silicene which is tipped to find use in an array of applications in the manufacturing industry. Dr Michelle J.S. Spencer Image credit: www.rmit.edu.au Silicene is a two-dimensional nanomaterial that is classified as a nanosheet. This wonder material is similar to graphene, in that it is an extremely thin and composed of atoms that are arranged in a honeycomb network showing unique properties highly suitable for applications in sensors, electronic devices and batteries. Unfortunately, the use of silicene in high technology applications is prevented because of its instability under ambient conditions. However, the new form of silicene – dubbed “wavy bilayer silicene” – is capable of displaying semiconducting properties while at the same time being resistant to oxidation. Earlier findings by Dr Michelle Spencer from the School of Science, who led RMIT’s contribution to the project, suggested that that the full application of silicene is hindered not only by its instability under ambient conditions but also its high reactivity with oxygen. “Our results gave some hints to help explain the conditions under which oxidation of silicene can occur. A number of factors, such as oxygen coverage or dose, as well as reaction temperature, significantly alter the degree of oxidation of silicone,” Ms Spencer said in her report published in Nature’s Scientific Reports. “This explains why control of the process is highly desirable in order to extend the potential range for the use of silicene in nanoscale devices under a variety of conditions, including metal/oxide semiconductor devices.” Based on these findings, the team synthesised and modelled the bilayer silicenes. “Placing them between planar crystals of calcium fluoride and calcium disilicide made them highly resistant to oxidation, which opens up new avenues for it application,” it says in the press release by RMIT. “Furthermore, the ability to modify the interfaces that sandwich the silicene enhances the applicability of the material.” The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. Australian Manufacturing

Middle Island assumes full ownership of advanced gold development in WA Middle Island Resources has completed the acquisition of the Sandstone gold project in Western Australia. Image credit: http://ift.tt/29C7QLf The Sandstone Project and processing facility is situated 12km south of the township of Sandstone. It comprises two granted Mining Leases on which the processing plant is situated. The operation also includes an operating licence, permitted tailings storage facility and bore field, with the fully equipped camps located on various freehold titles within the nearby village of Sandstone. Middle Island said it will launch a programme of infill & extension reverse circulation (RC) resource definition drilling – comprising ~4,200m – immediately after the programme of work (POW) has been approved by the WA’s Department of Mines & Petroleum (DMP). “The initial drilling programme is designed to upgrade exiting gold resources at the Project’ Shillington, Shillington North and Two Mine Hill open pit deposits into the Indicated category for inclusion in the pre-feasibility study (PFS),” the company told the ASX. “Completion of resource definition drilling in August will provide the key information required to commence the PFS. This study is planned to be completed in the December quarter and, assuming a positive outcome, provide confidence for the Company to commence refurbishment of the on-site 600,000tpa processing plant and associated infrastructure, with a view to re-commencing gold production in 2017. The project was formerly owned by Black Oak Minerals Limited which was placed into administration in September 2015 and subsequently liquidation in early 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Unilever and Smith’s slapped with $10,800 fine for misleading consumers Unilever Australia Limited and The Smith’s Snackfood Company Pty Ltd have each been ordered to pay a penalty of $10,800 for misleading healthy food representations. Image credit: ACCC Twitter page It comes after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), acting on complaint made by consumer advocacy group CHOICE, served the two companies with infringement notices for claiming that the products they supply had been approved or were suitable as healthy options for school canteens. “Unilver’s Paddle Pop Rainbow (10 pack) packaging included a logo on the front, back and one side of the packaging with the words “School Canteen Approved” and a tick symbol,” the ACCC said. “Smith’s Sakata Paws Pizza Supreme Rice Snacks included a logo with the words “Meets School Canteen Guidelines” and an image of a sandwich and apple.” The consumer watchdog pointed out that both products’ packaging included a disclaimer that the product met the ‘Amber’ criteria of the National Healthy School Canteens Guidelines, but argued that they were in a small font size and on a different side to the logos. Commissioner Sarah Court said the ACCC did not consider these disclaimers to be sufficiently prominent to correct the misleading representations created by the logos. “The ACCC believes both companies were using logos to claim that these products were a healthy option for school canteens to supply to children, when they were not,” she said. “School canteen managers, parents and caregivers rely upon product packaging and labelling when choosing healthy snacks for children. The ACCC is currently examining consumer protection issues around ensuring that the health claims made by large businesses are accurate and will not mislead consumers.” Unilever and Smith’s have told the ACCC they will stop using the logos on their product packaging. Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems launches facility expansion programme to accommodate increase in F-35 Lightning II production BAE System is undertaking a major expansion to its state-of-the-art F-35 Lightning II machining facility in the UK to ensure it is prepared for the increase in production rates of the stealthy, fifth generation, multi-role combat jet. Image credit: www.baesystems.com Located in Samlesbury, Lancashire, the original 10,000m² machining facility opened in 2010 and currently comprises two flexible manufacturing systems. Each of these systems contains eight automated milling machines which turn titanium blocks in to complex aircraft parts. The facility also houses two five axis twin-spindle milling machines and an automated boring facility. Cliff Robson, Senior Vice-President for the F-35 Lightning II programme, said the 5,000m2 extension will enable the facility to meet the demand of future production increases in coherence with the programmes schedule. He also pointed out that the expansion will bring the programme’s full metal machining capability in one building. “This extension to our machining facility further demonstrates our readiness to meet the challenge of increased production rates on the world’s largest defence programme. By January 2017, we will also complete a significant expansion of our state-of-the-art assembly line at Samlesbury. This investment in our machining capabilities is the next piece in the jigsaw,” Mr Robinson added. “Our facilities are amongst the best in the world. Using the latest technologies available and building on the manufacturing experience developed throughout our long and rich history, we are able to play a key role on this global programme.” Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra lauches switch to biodiesel Fonterra has become one of six cornerstone customers switching to Z Energy’s new biodiesel alongside Air New Zealand, TIL (Transports Investment Ltd), South Fuels, Downer and Fulton Hogan. Image credit: www.fonterra.com The move makes Fonterra the first company in New Zealand to adopt the new fuel, with Edgecumbe being the first of five Fonterra sites making the switch to the lower emission fuel in its tanker fleet. Fonterra Chief Operating Officer Global Operations, Robert Spurway said the shift to biodiesel was part of the company’s strategy to move towards greater efficiency and sustainability across all operations. “With more than 550 tankers, our fleet can travel hundreds of thousands kilometres every day on New Zealand’s roads,” he said. “Our commitment as foundation partners for Z Energy’s biodiesel project means the product will not only be available for our fleet, it also means Z can bring this innovative fuel to the pump for New Zealanders.” He said the shift to biodiesel has the potential to reduce emissions for the tankers using it by up to four per cent each year. “Our sustainability strategy addresses key efficiency and sustainability improvements, and sourcing clean energy alternatives is a big part of that. We also want to show our support for this kind of innovation so other New Zealanders can make good energy choices,” Mr Spurway added. “Fuel burned for transport contributes up to 20 per cent of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions, so given our scale, it’s important we play our part to help the environment. Moving to biofuel is one of the many projects we’re engaged in, like our planting, water quality projects, and energy efficiency programmes – which all focus on environmental sustainability.” Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems successfully trials advanced fighter pilot helmet BAE Systems has successfully completed further trials of The Striker® II Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) which allows the pilot to easily engage high-precision target tracking while providing superior situational awareness and mission effectiveness. Striker II Rotary Wing Helmet Image credit: www.baesystems.com Conducted at BAE’s UK site, the tests were part of the second phase of trials to integrate the HMD system’s technology with the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet. BAE said the testing demonstrated “seamless integration” of the Striker II HMD with the Typhoon, validating that the HMD can be readily used with existing aircraft, whether its electronics systems are analogue-based or digital. “The successful second phase builds upon last year’s trials, which proved the maturity of our digital night vision technology,” said Chris Colston, business development director for Advanced Displays at BAE Systems. “The major benefit of the Striker II solution is its ‘plug-and-play’ integration with existing aircrafts’ analogue electronics, as proven on the Typhoon without requiring any physical aircraft hardware modification.” Peter Kosogorin, test pilot for BAE Systems said the successful trials marked a significant milestone on the path to full integration of Striker II with Typhoon. “Striker II is a real step change for the fighter pilot. It removes the need for separate heavy night vision goggles that increase pressure on the pilot’s head and neck so that aircraft manoeuvrability is no longer limited,” he added. Striker II was developed at BAE Systems’ site in Rochester, Kent, and builds on the proven pedigree of the premier Striker HMD, which is already in service around the world on the Eurofighter Typhoon. Australian Manufacturing

Boeing’s 777X to feature composite materials made in U.A.E. A new joint venture formed by Mubadala Development Company and Solvay will be supplying Boeing with carbon fibre pre-impregnated (prepreg) composite material for the Boeing 777X, which will go into production in 2017. Image credit: www.boeing.com The Mubadala-Solvay joint venture, to be operational by 2021 in a new facility built in Al Ain, U.A.E., will produce primary structure composite material for use in manufacturing the 777X empennage and floor beams. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner said Boeing is the first customer for the Mubadala-Solvay JV. “After close collaboration with Mubadala and Solvay to expand the supply of aerospace composites, Boeing is pleased to be the first customer for their new joint venture in the U.A.E.,” Mr Conner said. “Our commitment to purchase this prepreg material for the 777X meets several important goals for Boeing, from further advancing aerospace industry development in the U.A.E. to expanding high-quality materials in our supply chain.” Prepreg composites – a combination of high-strength carbon fibre and toughened epoxy resin – were first introduced in the 1970s. They reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency in aircraft. Boeing’s 777 was the first commercial airplane to contain structurally significant composite parts, which account for 50% of the 787 Dreamliner’s structural weight. In addition, the 777X, scheduled for delivery in 2020, will have the world’s largest composite wing. Boeing collaboration with Mubadala started in 2009 and resulted in the signing of several agreements to advance their partnership in mutually beneficial ways, including in aerospace composites manufacturing. Three years ago, the two companies announced a new Framework Strategic Agreement to increase the long-term role of Mubadala as a direct supplier to Boeing, including support as Mubadala developed prepreg manufacturing in the U.A.E. “Boeing has been a key global partner of ours for years. Together with Solvay, we will further develop our capabilities in advanced composite materials production in order to expand the supply chain and create a materials ecosystem,” said Homaid Al Shimmari, CEO of Aerospace & Engineering Services, Mubadala. “The creation of a new manufacturing facility at the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park supports our efforts of delivering on Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030 by developing a regional Aerospace Hub for Abu Dhabi.” Solvay has been a valued supplier to Boeing for over 30 years, providing composite materials and adhesives in support of all Boeing Commercial Airplanes programs. Australian Manufacturing

Lockheed Martin Australia invests in SA’s defence and STEM capabilities Lockheed Martin Australia will be supporting university students in two government-led programs to advance their skills and experience and boost South Australia’s defence and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) credentials. Image credit: http://ift.tt/mBiDV4 The defence technology and innovation company will sponsor up to eight students at South Australian universities in the Defence Honours Scholarship Program and the STEM Internship Program, both of which are being delivered in partnership with the Playford Memorial Trust and the Defence Teaming Centre since 2014. The Defence Honours Scholarship Program awards scholarships to up to ten undergraduate students each year, providing them with the opportunity to undertake their final year Honours project in partnership with industry. The Defence and STEM Internship Program awards 10 internships to third and fourth year undergraduate students each year, providing them with industry experience through work placements of between 12 and 24 weeks with defence companies and industries reliant on STEM skills. Premier Jay Weatherill said the funding provides much sought after opportunities for students to gain valuable industry experience, enhance their learning and gain work-ready skills with local defence industry partners. “Our state is home to a world-class defence industry, delivering innovative solutions to complex problems,” Mr Weatherill noted. “Having a State Budget surplus, as announced on Thursday, allows us to be flexible in the way that we ensure we have skilled STEM workers capable of meeting the industry’s needs into the future. These programs, along with our $500 million STEM investment in schools, will give students the experience they need to succeed in the field – and a foot in the door for jobs in the defence sector.” Lockheed Martin Australia Chief Executive Raydon Gates said the company recognises that its future success depends on the constant supply of highly trained, highly capable technical talent. “As part of our efforts to educate and inspire tomorrow’s scientists, engineers and mathematicians, we believe that supporting initiatives like this one will play a vital role in educating the next generation of STEM professionals,” he added. “We know the opportunities that a career in STEM can afford firsthand and we are pleased to be participating in these programs with the South Australian Government to ensure future generations will have the access and opportunities to choose a rewarding career.” Australian Manufacturing

Toyota Australia secures three fuel cell vehicles to promote advanced car technology Toyota Australia has secured three fuel cell vehicles to use exclusively in the country for the next three years in an effort to raise awareness of future technology. Image credit: www.toyota.com.au Known as the Mirai, the fuel cell vehicles will not only assist Toyota engineers to learn more about the future technology, but will also be used for promotional and key stakeholder engagement activities. Toyota Australia revealed that the vehicles will soon be joined by a portable refuelling station with the ability to be ground mounted or be attached to a truck, allowing the vehicles to be refuelled anytime, anywhere. Toyota Australia President Dave Buttner said he was thrilled to welcome the new technology back to the country. “After having a taste of the technology last October, we are incredibly excited to have not one, but three of the fuel cell vehicles back in Australia,” Mr Buttner said. “We are looking forward to educating a whole new audience on this future technology and generating more awareness of fuel cell vehicles.” The Mirai, which is currently on sale in California, Japan and several countries across Europe, it is not available for commercial sale in Australia due to the country’s lack of infrastructure. “We are extremely interested in fuel cell technology, but we need the relevant infrastructure in place before we can sell these vehicles in Australia,” Mr Buttner said. “This will take time to develop so it is imperative that we take a whole of industry approach so that we can move these plans along as quickly as possible. Fuel cell technology is expected to play a key role in the future and we do not want Australians to miss out on this.” Fuel cell vehicles are powered exclusively by hydrogen – one of the most promising alternate fuels for the future – which makes them extremely eco-friendly as they emit only water. According to the company the Mirai vehicles are scheduled for display at a number of conferences and events throughout the country over the coming months. Australian Manufacturing

First Graphite nears completion of graphene production unit First Graphite Limited is moving forward with its strategy to become a bulk scale producer of high quality graphene. 250 litre production cell under constructionImage credit: First Graphite Limited ASX release The company has constructed a prototype commercial scale production unit for graphite, which will be ready for installation by the end of this month. It has also finalised an agreement with Nagrom the Mineral Processor to house the production cell at their premises in Perth and operate it under strict confidential guidelines. “Test work will be undertaken to confirm the scalability of the production process,” the company said in a statement. “As integral part of this proving the Company expects that there will be a period of optimisation prior to finalising the process for commercial application.” First Graphite believes that the 250 litre production unit will give it a significant commercial advantage over any alternative method of producing bulk graphene. “Rather than relying on a central processing facility from which graphene supplies would be transported, the technology will enable the location of production units in the facilities of the consuming industry for just-in-time production and delivery of pristine graphene, tailored to meet the specific requirements of each customer,” reads the statement. With each unit expected to produce up to 5 tonnes per annum of graphene at very low capital cost, the company believes industry could soon gain access to bulk quantities of low cost graphene for the first time. “The pending completion of the production graphene cell and it being housed and operated at Nagrom is a significant step in the Company’s journey to become a quality producer of high-grade graphene,” said Managing Director Craig McGuckin. “Up until now the high cost of graphene through CVD and other production facilities has been an impediment to full-scale commercialisation of graphene in many areas. However, First Graphite’s process is a game changer in both capital and operating costs. There is no reason why it cannot be the lowest cost supplier to industry.” Australian Manufacturing

Bioservo develops new industrial glove from GM/NASA space technology Bioservo Technologies AB, a leader in soft exoskeleton technology, is finding new life on Earth for a robotic technology developed out of a partnership between General Motors and NASA for use on the International Space Station. Image credit: bioservo.com The Swedish medical technology company has signed a licencing agreement with GM to use the RoboGlove technology in health care, manufacturing and other industrial applications. Working alongside GM, Bioservo will combine technology from its SEM GloveTM (Soft Extra Muscle) technology with the RoboGlove, a force-multiplying battery-powered wearable, to develop a new grasp assist device for industrial use that could increase human operator efficiency while reducing fatigue in hand muscles. The RoboGlove is equipped with cutting-edge sensors, actuators and tendons that are comparable to the nerves, muscles and tendons in a human hand. One design requirement for R2 was to operate tools designed for humans, and developers achieved unprecedented hand dexterity. That technology was applied to the RoboGlove. Tomas Ward, CEO of Bioservo Technologies described the technology combination as “a major step toward introducing soft exoskeleton technology globally”. “Combining the best of three worlds – space technology from NASA, engineering from GM and medtech from Bioservo – in a new industrial glove could lead to industrial scale use of the technology,” he said, adding that Bioservo will make and sell the new glove for a variety of uses including medical rehabilitation and any place additional gripping strength is needed. GM will be the first US manufacturing customer for the refined robotic glove and will test it in some of its facilities. “The successor to RoboGlove can reduce the amount of force that a worker needs to exert when operating a tool for an extended time or with repetitive motions,” said Kurt Wiese, vice president of GM Global Manufacturing Engineering. Australian Manufacturing

Porsche opens new plant for production of eight-cylinder engines Sports car manufacturer Porsche has officially opened its new engine plant for eight-cylinder engines, laying the necessary foundation for the production of electric drives. Image credit: vww.volkswagenag.com Located in the western expansion zone of the main Porsche production site in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, the $80 million factory produces around 200 eight-cylinder V-engines daily at peak capacity. “Porsche stands for sporty high-performance engines: from engine design to series production. We are further extending our competence in this area with the new engines,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, adding that the new engine plant will also contribute towards synergies within the Volkswagen Group. “This is how we will assure our customers the driving pleasure of tomorrow and safeguard the future jobs of our employees. At the same time, we are creating the necessary foundation for successfully leading Porsche into the new age of electric mobility.” At the heart of the new engine plant is its flexible production system in which manufacturing and automation are interlinked harmoniously and efficiently. Factory employees are all highly qualified and very well-trained to answer the demands for the assembly of the innovative eight-cylinder V-engines, which requires extremely precise processes and will at first only be used in the new Panamera. Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG, noted that ergonomically exemplary assembly stations can be adjusted individually for each employee. He said that in order to avoid monotony, the employees are involved in a large variety of work tasks and are trained in stages for the entire assembly process. “The ultimate goal is to have the workers attain mastery of the entire engine,” Mr Reimold added. Porsche incorporated around 100 state-of-the-art machines and tools into the production system concept, including industrial transport vehicles that are user-programmable. Powered by lithium-titanate batteries, the electric transporters navigate over a grid network of 16,000 magnets that are mounted in the floors of the two plant levels. Their flexibility allows the company to readily adapt production processes to potential product changes and new methods in the future. The EC tools are just as adaptable. For instance, their presets for torque or speed can be modified at any time via the electronic production network, which means that they are not limited to a specific place of use, but can essentially be used universally in assembly and only need to be mounted at the new work location. Christian Will, Vice President Aggregate and Components at Porsche AG, said the company is increasingly making use of digitalisation and data management capabilities in its production process for the new eight-cylinder V-engines. “Around 2,300 units of data can be retrieved for each engine after it has been finished and tested. Any fluctuations in quality are detected very early at their onset and are prevented from having an effect,” he added. Australian Manufacturing

Guala Closures wins Government funding to purchase state of the art equipment West Footscray based manufacturer Guala Closures has been awarded a Labor Government grant to invest in a new cutting edge equipment to boost its exports and create new jobs. Image credit: http://ift.tt/12TfQMG The $166,000 grant – which was awarded under the Labor Government’s Future Industries Manufacturing Program – will allow the aluminium bottle caps manufacturer to purchase and install high value precision cameras at its integrated screw cap factory, which will improve the quality of the company’s products and create 12 jobs. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan, who visited the facility last Friday, said the grant award demonstrated the Andrew’s Government commitment to creating jobs and supporting high growth industries that will help transition the economy towards an advanced manufacturing state. “The Andrews Labor Government is helping local manufacturers like Guala Closures to create new jobs and secure the future of its operations,” the Minister said. “Our focus is on growing the economy by supporting businesses, both large and small, to transition to an advanced manufacturing future. Under this Government we have created more than 120,000 jobs in 18 months – far more than the former coalition throughout their entire last term.” Recent grant recipients under the Future Industries Manufacturing Program include vehicle floor mats manufacturer Fitmycar, industrial textile manufacturer C.E. Bartlett, ceramics tile manufacturer Southern Cross Ceramics and spacilised healthcare firm Medical Developments International. Australian Manufacturing

Neoen Australia opens first stage of its Hornsdale Wind Farm in SA Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter and ACT Deputy Chief Minister Simon Corbell officially opened the first stage of Neoen Australia’s Hornsdale Wind Farm near Jamestown, which began feeding energy into the grid last week. Simon Corbell, ACT Minister for the Environment, at the signing of the Hornsdale wind farm contract.Image credit: Siemens Australia website The site has been developed by Neoen, local partner Megawatt Capital Investments and infrastructure investor John Laing, after the French renewable energy company successfully bid for the ACT Government’s 20-year wind farm contract in late 2015. Under the ACT Government’s innovative reverse auction scheme, Stage 1 of Hornsdale wind farm was awarded a feed-in tariff for 100MW of generation, which is enough to power up to 70,000 homes. The ACT Government also awarded stage 2 of the Hornsdale project a feed-in tariff for an additional 100MW at a then-record low price of $77 per megawatt hour. “Neoen, as a developer, investor and asset owner, has the recipe to bring together high quality, complex and innovative projects,” said Franck Woitiez, Managing Director of Neoen Australia, adding that the company was planning to build more than 600MW of renewable energy projects in Australia by 2020. “South Australia is home to our largest wind farm in the world, and such a welcoming place to do business. Neoen has an ambitious development target for Australia and the quality of our relationship with local communities, and government agencies allows us to continue investing in the state.” Mr Hunter said Hornsdale was an optimal wind farm site due to its access to strong wind, links to a high capacity power network that links Adelaide with the industrial north, and its relative distance from populated areas. “As a government, we are delighted to see this project reach the energisation stage. About 41 per cent of South Australia’s electricity is generated from renewable sources,” the Minister said. “Hornsdale is a unique example of what can be achieved with like-minded partnerships. We’re bringing together the best of technology from Siemens who are building an operating the wind farm, international investment from Neoen the owner of this important project, the ACT government who are seeking the best value renewable offsets and South Australia who are Australia’s leading renewable destination.” ACT Deputy-Chief Minister Simon Corbell said the wind farm will be a major component of the electricity generation needed to reach the territory’s target of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020. “When complete the wind farm will provide around 27 per cent of the ACT’s forecast 2020 electricity supply,” he said. “The ACT will benefit from a number of local investments from the developers of the Hornsdale wind farm, including a new Renewable Energy Skills Centre of Excellence at Canberra’s Institute of Technology and new company headquarters for the developer, Neoen.” Siemens was contracted to provide 32 of its 3.2MW turbines for the Hornsdale project, as well as to set up a skills centre to train engineers. David Pryke, Head of Siemens Energy Businesses in Australia & NZ, said the project was the epitome of partnership combined with the best technology to bring ingenuity to life for the benefit of society. “We have a long and proud history of over 144 years in South Australia and it’s a great place to do business. A complex project like Hornsdale can only be achieved through willing and capable like-minded partners,” Mr Pryke said. “The outcome is that it’s good for the environment, good for the economy and good for the community – all critical ingredients for sustainable success.” Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa opens state of the art 3D printing metal powder plant Lightweight metals leader Alcoa has opened a cutting-edge, 3D printing metal powder production facility at the Alcoa Technology Centre located outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Image: http://ift.tt/29ototo The new facility – which is part of a $60 million investment in advanced 3D printing materials and processes that builds on the company’s 3D printing capabilities in California, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas – will produce proprietary titanium, nickel and aluminium powders optimised for 3D printed aerospace parts. Alcoa Chairman and CEO, Mr Klaus Kleinfied said the company also invested in a range of technologies to further develop additive processes, product design and qualification. “Alcoa is forging a leadership path in additive manufacturing with a sharp focus on the critical input material-metal powders,” Mr Kleinfield said. “We are combining our expertise in metallurgy, manufacturing, design and product qualification to push beyond the possibilities of today’s 3D printing technologies for aerospace and other growth markets.” The facility will form part of Arconic following separation from Alcoa’s traditional commodity business in the second half of 2016. In addition to producing powders, the company is focused on advancing a range of additive techniques, including its recently unveiled Ampliforge™ process, a hybrid technique that combines additive and traditional manufacturing. Alcoa uses the Ampliforge™ process to design and 3D print a near complete part, which it then treats using a traditional manufacturing process, such as forging. The process boosts the properties of 3D printed parts, increasing toughness and strength versus parts made solely by additive manufacturing, and significantly reduces material input. The technique is being piloted in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. The company, which has manufactured 3D printed products for the past 20 years, owns and operates one of the world’s largest HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) complexes in aerospace. HIP technology strengthens the metallic structures of traditional and 3D printed parts made of titanium and nickel based super-alloys. With the acquisition of RTI (now known as Alcoa Titanium & Engineered Products), the company gained 3D printing capabilities in titanium and other specialty metals for the aerospace market and other growth industries. Alcoa’s unparalleled additive manufacturing capabilities earned the company a multi-million dollar deal with Airbus for the supply of 3D printed titanium fuselage and engine pylon parts for commercial aircraft. The company said it expects to deliver the first additive manufactured parts later this year. Australian Manufacturing

ACCC investigates concerns raised by Borg’s proposed acquisition of Alpine’s MDF manufacturing assets The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a Statement of Issues detailing the strong concerns raised by the proposed purchase of the manufacturing assets of large board manufacturer Alpine MDF by The Borg Group. Image credit: ACCC Twitter pageacc It comes after the proposed transaction sparked serious concerns by a wide range of Alpine and Borg customers, given the fact that Alpine and Borg are two of only three manufacturers of raw medium-density fibreboard (MDF) products in Australia. “Our preliminary view is that the transaction is likely to lessen competition in national markets for the manufacture and supply of raw and value-added MDF, leading to increased prices,” ACCC Commissioner Roger Featherston said. According to him, a key issue is the extent to which imports or potential imports of raw MDF would constrain the remaining two local manufacturers. “Customers have raised strong concerns about the costs and other potential issues associated with trying to import raw MDF and “value-added MDF” products such as doorskins and mouldings. Our understanding is that currently there is very little importation of these products into Australia.” Borg’s competitors have raised concerns that the proposed acquisition will increase the company’s ability to swell their costs of production or foreclose their access to raw MDF. Among value-added MDF products, market participants have also raised concerns that Borg and Alpine are the only manufacturers of doorskins in Australia. “MDF is a ubiquitous material found in the vast majority of Australian homes and commercial premises. We’re looking very closely at this transaction and its potential impacts on competition and on prices for both raw and value-added MDF products,” Mr Featherston said. The ACCC is inviting further submissions from interested parties in response to its paper by 21 July 2016. The consumer watchdog said it expects to announce its final decision on 1 September 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Wingara to acquire controlling stake in PHPC International agricultural product exporter Wingara Ag Limited is set to acquire a controlling stake in Pyrenees Hay Processing Co-Operative (PHPC), which specialises in growing, processing and exporting premium quality Australian Oaten Hay. Image credit: www.agric.wa.gov.au The proposed acquisition will expand Wingara’s reach of high quality Oaten hay across Northern and Western Victoria and will add up to 40,000 metric tonnes (mt) per annum capacity to the company’s existing capability of up to 50,000 mt with sufficient land space to further increase capacity. “The proposed acquisition of PHPC will deliver an additional 40,000 mt of high quality oaten hay to its supply database that can be economically produced at either Avoca or Bendigo (Epsom) delivering improved security of supply,” Wingara told the ASX on Thursday. Wingara said the overall investment in PHPC and associated entities will be $5.5 million. According to the company, the investment will acquire assets and inventory with additional capital expenditure set aside for plant improvement and storage upgrade. “The acquisition will broaden Wingara’s product base by adding large bale size to its product line, improving product diversification and further increasing its ability to grow its customer base,” reads the statement. “In addition, the Avoca site has existing site infrastructure in place to support the purchase and installation of new machinery that will increase the site’s overall production capacity to 60,000 mt per annum and assist Wingara’ strategy to grow its hay export volume capacity to 110,000 mt by 30 December 2018.” The transaction, subject to final due diligence and proper execution of relevant legal documents, is expected to be completed by third quarter 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Ego Pharmaceuticals opens state-of-the-art flammable goods manufacturing facility Australian skincare specialists Ego Pharmaceuticals have opened its new $15 million dollar flammable goods manufacturing facility which marks the biggest production expansion in the company’s 63 year history. Image credit: www.egopharm.com The state of the art facility will manufacture products that contain flammable ingredients including Aqium hand sanitiser, MOOV Head Lice treatments, SOOV Bite gel, Resolve solution and select SunSense sunscreens at large scale to help prevent the spread of disease. Ego’s Managing Director Alan Oppenheim remarked that the new facility will see the family owned company double its bottle filling capacity and grow its booming export business. He said the investment will create 63 new jobs and to grow the company’s exports by $40 million. “The new $15 million dollar facility increases our total production capabilities across our site dramatically. It’s an investment in new technology, new processes, jobs in Australia, economic uplift and skin health for the community” Mr Oppenheim said. He said the move was also steadfast for the people of Australia in the event of a future health pandemic. “It is a good strategy for Australia to have secured its own huge new manufacturing facility of quality hand sanitiser to help protect against the spread of viruses.” Mr Oppenheim’s wife, Dr Jane Oppenheim – who is at the forefront of the expansion project – said the project was part of a thirty year expansion plan for the company, which also includes a $135 million development in a new global headquarters – a 9.5 hectare development at the new Logis Estate in Dandenong South. “You absolutely have to invest in innovation and to continue to increase your efficiencies without compromising on quality,” Dr Oppenheim said. “Without innovation you will slowly fall behind, both locally and internationally. Investing in innovation in equipment, processes and people in production is adding sustenance for a sustainable future.” Australian Manufacturing

RPM International wraps up acquisition of Australian waterproofing materials manufacturer RPM International’s Tremco Group has acquired the assets of Duram Industries Pty Limited, an Australian-based manufacturer of a comprehensive range of commercial waterproofing products with annual net sales of approximately $6 million. Image credit: www.duram.com.au Duram manufactures a range of liquid-applied waterproofing materials that serve a broad array of above-grade waterproofing needs for brick, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), stucco and noise suppression walls. They are also used for horizontal and below-grade applications, including pedestrian, vehicular traffic, balcony and thin-set, as well as foundation waterproofing and split slab. Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and chief executive officer, said Duram has developed a loyal following of customers due to their reputation for consistent, quality materials and exceptional service. “Tremco intends to leverage its acquisition of Duram to broaden the geographic footprint of its commercial sealants and roofing systems in the Australian market,” Mr Sullivan said. “Duram’s in-market manufacturing will provide expanded sourcing opportunities and higher customer service levels. At the same time, Tremco will leverage the combined resources to expand the reach of Duram’s products throughout the country.” The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Australian Manufacturing

ACCIONA Energy and Windlab to build two new wind farms in Victoria The Andrews Labor Government will support the construction of two new wind farms in regional Victoria. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXjby dan Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced the signing of contracts with global renewable companies ACCIONA Energy and Windlab for windfarm projects in Mt Gellibrand and Kiata which will bring forward $220 million of new investment and create hundreds of new jobs. She said the state government will buy renewable energy certificates for its electricity use direct from new Victorian projects, with the initiative potentially saving Victoria up to 67 million over 10 years. “We can build a strong, sustainable renewable energy industry that powers our broader economy, creates well paid jobs and reduces our environmental impact,” the Minister added. “We’re proud to be rebuilding much needed confidence in the renewable energy industry following the neglect of Liberal governments at both state and federal levels over recent years.” ACCIONA Energy Managing Director Andrew Thomson said the company will begin construction of its Mt Gellibrand wind farm in Victoria early next year. He said the goundbreaking tender held by the state government for the purchase of green energy certificates linked to renewable energy generated in Victoria was a major boost for renewable energy projects. “This is very positive news for the growth of ACCIONA in Victoria, where we already operate the 192MW Waubra wind farm and where we have a number of additional wind energy projects in development,” Mr Thomson said. The two new windfarms are expected to generate enough electricity to power 80,000 homes, totalling approximately 100MW of capacity. Australian Manufacturing

Donwer wins two year Meandu mine contract extension Downer EDI Limited has signed a two year, $250million extension to its contract for the provision of mining services at Stanwell Corporation’s Meandu mine in South East Queensland, which delivers approximately 5.5 million tonnes of product coal per year to the adjacent Tarong and Tarong North power stations. Image credit: www.downergroup.com Downer has been providing mining services at Meandu since January 2013 and the contract extension will see the company provide these services until June 2020. The Chief Executive of Downer, Grant Fenn, said the extension reflected Downer’s strong performance and its ongoing commitment to deliver cost savings and operational improvements at the mine. In addition to the Meandu contract extension, Downer also signed a Technical Services Agreement (TSA) with Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) for the provision of mine planning, design and project execution services for the AEL coal mines in India. Mr Fenn said the signing of the TSA builds on the excellent relationship between Downer and Adani and opens an opportunity in a new market for the Downer Group. “The TSA has an initial value of $2 million, takes effect in July 2016 and has an initial term of 12 months,” he said. “The services include technical and operational support for existing AEL coal mines and technical review of the bids for the Indian coal block auction.” Australian Manufacturing

Arrium administrators outline dual sale/recapitalisation plan KodraMentha, the appointed administrators of troubled steelmaker Arrium, have outlined a two–track plan for the sale/recapitalisation of the Arrium Group following a review of the business. Image credit: www.arrium.com The administrators are proposing a dual track process for Moly Cop grinding media business – involving a trade sale or an initial public offering – which would run parallel to a plan for a sale or recapitalisation of Arrium Australia’s combined steelworks, port and mining operations at Whyalla, together with its manufacturing, distribution and recycling businesses. KodraMentha partner Mark Mentha said the proposed approach would achieve the best outcome for all stakeholders. “Progress at this preliminary stage in encouraging. Moly-Cop is the largest and most experienced manufacturer and supplier of grinding media to mining operations worldwide. It is a strong business and is expected to attract global interest,” he said. “We have also received significant interest in the Arrium Australia businesses, with enquiries from parties including global steel companies, large mining companies and global private equity firms.” According to him, significant progress is being made to reduce the cost base of the mining and steel operations at Whyalla. “We are now targeting total annualised cost savings since the commencement of initiatives in October 2015 of approximately $300 million,” Mr Mentha added. “As reported to the ASX on 10 June 2016, the South Australian Government has announced its intention to contribute $50 million in assistance for Arrium’s Whyalla business. While the Federal Government election outcome remains uncertain, we look forward to progressing the opportunity to safeguard the future of Arrium’s Australian businesses with key stakeholders.” He said due diligence and other materials for potential investors were being prepared and a data room established. “It is anticipated that the marketing program for the sale/recapitalisation processes will commence in mid to late July 2016,” Mr Mentha concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Glencore’s Minara Resources adopts CSIRO technology that could save mining companies millions of dollars Glencore subsidiary Minara Resources has adopted a new CSIRO-developed technology that takes the energy-sapping “drag” out of industrial pumping. CSIRO senior engineer, Dr Rueben RajasingamImage credit: www.csiro.au The drag reduction technology, which underwent a successful full-scale trial, can save mining companies millions of dollars on energy and water use each year, while boosting their productivity. Minara’s technical and engineering manager, Paul Wiltshire, said the technology will improve the feed ore slurry pumping capacity at their Murrin Murrin nickel operation in Western Australia, which was overloading as they increased their ore throughput. “Working together with CSIRO, we were able to identify a low-cost installation point with good potential for reducing the slurry drag effect in the piping system,” Mr Wiltshire said. “The technology freed up capacity, which meant we could avoid an expensive plant upgrade to meet throughput demand. It was an immediate success and CSIRO’s drag reduction technology is now part of our toolkit when considering other slurry pumping constraints on site.” Because of the fact that almost all mineral processing plants need to transport slurry – a semi-liquid mixture that can include water, ore and other material – through pumps at various process steps, reducing water content, power demand and pumping inefficiencies will result in significant operational and cost improvements. “The thicker the material, the more friction or ‘drag effect’ you get which makes it hard to pump and more energy and capital-intensive,” said CSIRO senior engineer, Dr Rueben Rajasingam. “Water is typically added to dilute the material before pumping, but only as a last resort because the more water you add the less throughput you achieve. Our technology combats both these challenges: it introduces a thin, uniform and long-lasting ring of fluid between the slurry and the inside of the pipe so that thick material can be efficiently pumped without friction at a high throughput.” CSIRO’s drag reduction technology offers a welcome boost to the mining and minerals processing industry which facing challenging times caused by low commodity prices and the shift to increasingly lower-grade ores. Mr Rajasingam said the technology is simple, cost-effective, easy-to-implement and could be applied to a broader range of industrial processes where there’s a dewatering aspect that results in a sludge, slurry or paste that needs to be transported, such as in construction, waste management, coating services and food processing. “For example, the construction industry is increasingly needing to pump concrete up higher and higher to build skyscrapers and so this could be a cost-effective solution for them to overcome challenges like blockings,” Dr Rajasingam said. He said that for the mining industry, the technology means that variation in the ore’s viscosity or water content, can be easily managed. According to him, it also offers a solution for backfill – a common mine site remediation technique where materials are pumped back into an exhausted open pit or underground mine to return ground stability and regenerate the site. “The idea of using a lubricant is not new, but we’ve come up with a better technology that overcomes issues with coating uniformity,” Dr Rajasingam added. “The way we introduce the coating creates a thin, uniform sheath around the slurry, whereas other methods coat sporadically.” Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems: Lab-grown aircraft could shape the future of warfare (VIDEO) Engineers and scientists at BAE Systems and the University of Glasgow have outlined their vision on how military aircraft could be designed and manufactured in the future. Image credit: www.baesystems.com Presented ahead of the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow, the concepts were developed collaboratively as part of BAE Systems’ “open innovation” approach, which envisions sharing technology and scientific ideas between large and established companies, academia and small start-ups. “During this century, the scientists and engineers envisage that small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) bespoke to specific military operations, could be ‘grown’ in large-scale labs through chemistry, speeding up evolutionary processes and creating bespoke aircraft in weeks, rather than years,” BAE said in a media statement. “A radical new machine called a Chemputer™ could enable advanced chemical processes to grow aircraft and some of their complex electronic systems, conceivably from a molecular level upwards.” According to BAE, this unique UK technology could use environmentally sustainable materials and support military operations where a multitude of small UAVs with a combination of technologies serving a specific purpose might be needed quickly. The company believes that the technology could also be used to produce multi-functional parts for large manned aircraft that could perform a variety of missions where a rapid response is needed, including deploying emergency supplies for Special Forces inside enemy territory and deploying small surveillance aircraft. “The world of military and civil aircraft is constantly evolving and it’s been exciting to work with scientists and engineers outside BAE Systems and to consider how some unique British technologies could tackle the military threats of the future” said Professor Nick Colosimo, a BAE Systems Global Engineering Fellow. Regius Professor Lee Cronin at the University of Glasgow, and Founding Scientific Director at Cronin Group PLC – who is developing the Chemputer™ – said this was a very exciting time in the development of chemistry. “We have been developing routes to digitise synthetic and materials chemistry and at some point in the future hope to assemble complex objects in a machine from the bottom up, or with minimal human assistance,” Mr Cronin added. “Creating small aircraft would be very challenging but I’m confident that creative thinking and convergent digital technologies will eventually lead to the digital programming of complex chemical and material systems.” Australian Manufacturing

Austal wins US Navy contract modification for USS Jackson (LCS 6) shock trials supports Austal Limited has won a US$11,239,032 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification from the US Navy to provide emergent availability planning and full ship shock trials (FSST) support for tests to be conducted on Littoral Combat Ship USS Jackson (LCS 6). Image credit: australia.austal.com “Specifically, Austal USA will plan for and conduct any “in-between shot” repairs required during the FSST event(s), repair any damage sustained during the FSST period and coordinate the removal of FSST testing equipment and instrumentation following completion of the trials,” the company said in a media release. “The FFST comprise a series of tests designed to demonstrate the ship’s ability to withstand the effects of nearby underwater explosions and retain required capability. USS Jackson has successfully completed the first of three trials and is performing as expected.” Austal delivered USS Jackson (LCS 6) to the US Navy on 11th August 2015 and delivered the future USS Montgomery (LCS 8) last week. The company is currently constructing six additional Independent-variant LCS at its facility in Mobile, Alabama as part of an 11-ship contract worth over US$3.5 billion from the US Navy. The future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), Omaha (LCS 12) and Manchester (LCS 14) are all preparing for sea trials. According to the company, assembly is well underway on Tulsa (LCS 16) and Charleston (LCS 18) while modules for Cincinnati (LCS 20) are under construction in its industry-leading module manufacturing facility (MMF). Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa wins $470m Embraer contract Lightweight metals leader Alcoa has inked a long-term contract with commercial jets manufacturer Embraer for the supply of aluminium sheet and plate for Embraer’s new E2s, the second generation of its E-Jets family of commercial aircraft. Image credit: Alcoa Twitter page The multiyear contract – valued at approximately $470 million – will see Alcoa become the sole supplier of proprietary wing skins and fuselage sheet on the E2 line of jets. Also part of the contract are other Alcoa plate products used in key applications such as wing ribs, fuselage frames and other structural parts of the aircraft, which will be featured on the E2 as well as Embraer’s KC-390 military transport aircraft and executive jets. “Our partnership with Embraer is rooted in constant innovation and this contract is further proof of that strength,” said Mark Vrablec, President of Alcoa’s Aerospace & Automotive Products business. “Our patented alloys enable us to support our customer’s game-changing E2 program, and we’re proud that Alcoa will fly with Embraer.” Fernando Queiroz, Embraer Vice President, Supply Chain, said they chose Alcoa’s proprietary alloys for the E2 due to the combination of strength, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance that they offer. “Alcoa offers a good combination of technical expertise and industry leading material and capabilities,” he said. “Embraer designed the E-Jets E2 commercial aircraft to be the best in its segment and to do that, we needed the best material in the business, and Alcoa offers the best solution.” Alcoa will be supplying Embraer from its plants in Davenport, Iowa, and Kitts Green, United Kingdom. Australian Manufacturing

Australian PMI®: Manufacturing continues expansion in June The Australian PMI increased by 0.8 to 51.8 in June to complete a full year of continuous expansion, equalling the longest unbroken period of growth in a decade. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXjby Stuart Miles According to Ai Group’s report, five of the seven activity sub-indexes expanded in June, with production up by 3.5 points to 54.4, new orders up by 1.9 points to 54.1) and sales down by 2.2 points to 53.7. Six of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded, led by petroleum & chemical products (up 2.2 points to 62.1) and non-metallic mineral products (up 6.8 points to 58.3). Wood & paper products (down 10.0 points to 57.7) and food, beverages & tobacco (down 11.6 points to 53.7) lost some ground in June, but remained in expansion. While metal products (up 6.4 points to 50.4) and printing & recorded media (up 0.5 points to 50.2) entered into expansionary territory, machinery & equipment (down 5.8 points to 44.8) and textiles, clothing & other manufacturing (up 1.8 points to 48.9) remained in contraction in June. The input prices sub-index increased by 0.6 points and now stands at 63.8, whereas wages growth continues to be volatile, with the wages sub-index dropping 5.8 points to 55.5. The manufacturing selling prices sub-index also climbed by 2.4 points to 53.0 – the strongest result since March 2011. “The mild expansion of manufacturing in June capped a year in positive territory for the Australian PMI®. It was a year in which manufacturers took advantage of the boost to competitiveness from the lower Australian dollar both in the domestic market and in export markets,” said Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox. “The metal products sub-sector, which has been heavily impacted by adverse global conditions in recent times, recorded its first expansion since September 2010. The important food and beverages sub-sector continued in positive territory although there are now signs of a slowdown and the machinery and equipment sub sector was weaker – in part due to the low levels of business investment across the economy and the gradual wind-down of auto assembly. The clear imperative for the sector is for a lift in investment both within the sector itself and more broadly across the economy.” Australian Manufacturing

WA State Government announces $6.7 million investment to boost agricultural growth The Liberal National Government announced $6.7 million in State Government investment to support 20 new projects that will drive agricultural growth. Wheat harvesting on Bob PRESTON’S farm at MingenewImage credit: www.agric.wa.gov.au Agriculture and Food Minister Dean Nalder said the grants were awarded to not-for-profit farmer driven organisations to support a range of new projects, such as increasing exports of Western Australian barley to Asian brewers and devising a strategy to increase premium wine exports. “These grants are across a range of areas and form part of the State Government’s broader commitment to grow the agrifood sector and capitalise on increasing demand for safe, high-quality food,” Mr Nalder said. “The local groups are co-investing in these initiatives. Wines of Western Australia will use their grant to identify the best pathways to grow the State’s premium wine exports. Building on existing relationships in Asia, the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association will integrate market intelligence and on-farm agronomic advantages to position WA malting barley as the preferred supply source for Asian brewers.” Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the grants were part of the Liberal National Government’s Agricultural Sciences Research and Development Fund, made possible by the Royalties for Regions Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative. He said the initiative was focused on increasing economic growth in regional communities. “WA is being increasingly recognised internationally as a potential investment destination for agribusiness due to its availability of land, water and climatic conditions suitable for a wide range of agricultural produces,” Mr Redman added. According to Mr Nalder, additional projects remain under consideration in the first round of grants, with a second funding round through the fund to open later this year. Australian Manufacturing

Broad community collaboration could transform Adelaide into world’s first carbon neutral city, Minister says A joint State Government and Adelaide City Council workshop saw leaders from the community, not-for-profit, property, banking and finance sectors explore what it will take to make Adelaide the world’s first carbon neutral city. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXjby federico stevanin Launched by Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter and Lord Mayor Martin Haese last week, the half day workshop looked to areas of energy efficiency, zero emissions transport, renewable energy uptake and waste reduction to attract investment to the city and State and deliver jobs and opportunities for innovation. “Adelaide can only become carbon neutral if we all work together – the key to achieving our vision lies in partnering with business and community leaders to tap into the creativity, research and technical knowledge and innovation to be found in our community,” Mr Hunter said. “We have proven you can decouple carbon emissions from economic growth – achieving a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2007, and a 27 per cent increase in the city’s residential growth and 28 per cent increase in GDP through the same period.” South Australia is a leader in the takeup of renewable energy, with 41 per cent of the state’s energy supply already coming from renewable energy sources. “Adelaide City Council and the State Government of South Australia will continue providing assistance to business and the community by way of incentives, partnerships and carbon challenges to make it easier for everyone to work towards Carbon Neutral Adelaide,” the Minister added. Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the Council had a strong strategy around becoming the world’s first carbon neutral city and was looking forward to working alongside the state government, business and the community to achieve this goal. “Already our incentives scheme has been extremely popular with early adopters building critical mass so that being carbon neutral will soon be an affordable proposition for everyone. We really are leading by example, by working towards carbon neutrality in our own operations. Since 2007 we have reduced the annual energy consumption expenditure by $800,000 in our own buildings,” Mr Haese noted. He said the workshop was one in a series of next steps to address carbon emissions. “All tiers of government, business and the community need to work together to achieve this goal and ensure a thriving Adelaide into the future,” Mr Haese added. “Adelaide City Council and the State Government of South Australia will continue providing assistance to business and the community by way of incentives, partnerships and carbon challenges to make it easier for everyone to work towards Carbon Neutral Adelaide into the future.” Minister Hunter pointed out that members of the public are also encouraged to provide ideas on this matter at http://ift.tt/29pcaz8, with consultation open until the end of July. According to him, opinions and perspectives captured will inform the action plan which will be released later this year. Australian Manufacturing

New country of origin food labels to help Aussie consumers find out more about their food Australia’s new country of origin food labelling came into effect on Friday, and will be compulsory for all food products produced for sale in Australia. Image credit: http://ift.tt/29fs8y2 Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive Ian Harrison said the famous Australian Made, Australian Grown (AMAG) Kangaroo logo will feature on most new labels, along with a bar chart that will show what proportion of the ingredients are sourced from Australia. He said companies will be allowed a two year phase-in period to relabel, redesign and sell existing stock before the June 30, 2018 deadline, when the new system will become mandatory. “A tighter system for food labelling, coupled with a better understanding of that system by consumers, will give Aussie shoppers more confidence in what they are purchasing and provide Australian farmer and manufacturers with a much needed leg up,” Mr Harrison said. “It removes that old phrase which nobody liked, ‘Made in Australia from local and imported ingredients. ’” According to Mr Harrison, the widespread use of the AMAG logo will also strengthen the logo’s connection to Australia and help boost sales of genuine Aussie goods in domestic and export markets. “Exported food is not required to carry the new labels so businesses wanting to use the AMAG logo on their products can do so under a licence with AMCL,” Mr Harrison added. “Shoppers will also continue to see the AMAG logo on all other types of Aussie products with AMCL to continue administering and promoting the logo as a voluntary country of origin certification trade mark.” Australian Manufacturing

Tesla driver dies while using Autopilot mode Tesla Motors confirmed last Thursday the first fatality involving its all-electric Model S vehicle which is equipped with a partially autonomous driving system. Image credit: www.teslamotors.com The company confirmed that the “Autopilot” system was activated at the time of the accident, but failed to distinguish the white side of a turning tractor-trailer from a brightly lit sky and didn’t automatically activate the brakes. Tesla said Federal officials were investigating the performance of Autopilot during the crash to determine whether the system worked “according to expectations”. “Following our standard practice, Tesla informed NHTSA about the incident immediately after it occurred. What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S,” reads the company’s press release. “Neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied. The high ride height of the trailer combined with its positioning across the road and the extremely rare circumstances of the impact caused the Model S to pass under the trailer, with the bottom of the trailer impacting the windshield of the Model S.” The innovative carmaker, however, was quick to point out that it “disables Autopilot by default” and requires explicit acknowledgement that the system is new technology and still in a public beta phase before it can be enabled. “When drivers activate Autopilot, the acknowledgment box explains, among other things, that Autopilot “is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times,” and that “you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle” while using it,” it says in the press release. “Additionally, every time that Autopilot is engaged, the car reminds the driver to “Always keep your hands on the wheel. Be prepared to take over at any time.” The system also makes frequent checks to ensure that the driver’s hands remain on the wheel and provides visual and audible alerts if hands-on is not detected. It then gradually slows down the car until hands-on is detected again.” The company also paid their respect to the vehicle owner, the 40-year old Joshua D. Brown, of Canton, Ohio, and expressed their condolences to his grieving family. “The customer who died in this crash had a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss,” Tesla said. “He was a friend to Tesla and the broader EV community, a person who spent his life focused on innovation and the promise of technology and who believed strongly in Tesla’s mission. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.” Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra Australia announces opening farmgate milk price for 2016/17 Fonterra Australia has told suppliers that it predicts a closing farmgate milk price for the 2016/17 season of $5.00 per kilogram of milk solids (kg/MS), with an opening farmgate milk price of $4.75kg/MS. Image credit: fonterra.com The co-operatives’ Chief Operating Officer of Velocity and Innovation, Judith Swales, described this as a “responsible opening price” that reflects current market conditions. “Our forecast is based on the Australian dollar holding at around 74 cents to the US dollar and reflects the revenue we expect to earn on products produced using our manufacturing assets. Our farmgate milk price in Australia is also impacted by global dairy markets given our mix of domestic and export sales,” Ms Swales said. “While we are still seeing an imbalance between global milk supply and demand there are signs in key milk producing areas of a slowdown in production and increased imports into key markets such as China, Asia and Latin America. This supports our view of a recovery in global prices as we move through the season.” She said the company was focused on building on its Ingredients strengths by making Australia Fonterra’s global hub for cheese, whey, and nutritionals, complementing our Consumer and Foodservice businesses: Last year, Fonterra commissioned a multi-million beverages plant in Cobden, creating over 50 local jobs, with construction of the Stanhope cheese plant – on track for completion mid-2017 – well underway. The company also signed new strategic agreements to fill Darnum, including Beingmate JV and Bellamy’s Organic, and is investing in market-leading brands, including Western Star, Perfect Italiano and Mainland. “We are focussing on the future, and are continuing to build a strong Australian business that is here for the long term,” Ms Swales said, adding that individual suppliers’ milk prices will vary across Fonterra’s supply regions, depending on the individual farm’s milk profile, regional production factors, milk quality and farm management systems. Australian Manufacturing

Norsk Titanium closes $25m funding round to expand aerospace titanium additive manufacturing operations Norsk Titanium AS, a Norway-based supplier of aerospace-grade, 3D printed, structural titanium components, announced the successful close of its Q2 2016 funding round. Image credit: http://ift.tt/29bxlD1 The company said it will use the funds to provide financing for a rapidly expanding customer base, aerospace production part qualification programs, a US expansion into New York State and key additions to the leadership team. The funding round includes: $10 million equity investment from Insight Equity Holdings LLC, a mid-market private equity firm $10 million growth debt facility from Harbert European Growth Capital Fund I (HEGCF) $5 million equity investment from a number of smaller investors “We are delighted to announce the successful close of this round of funding. The Board of Norsk Titanium believes our current industrial-scale expansion strategy in the U.S. will create significant shareholder value and service the needs of our American aerospace and defence customers,” said John Andersen, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Norsk Titanium Victor Vescovo, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Insight Equity, said the company was very excited about its investment in Norsk Titanium. “As industry veterans in metal additive manufacturing and high-precision machining through Precision Holdings, we see enormous potential for Norsk’s Rapid Plasma Deposition™ technology not just in titanium and in aircraft parts, but throughout a broader spectrum of other materials and industries in the future,” Mr Vescovo added. Johan Kampe, Senior Managing Director at Harbert European Growth Capital Fund, said their investment in Norsk Titanium was motivated by the company’s Rapid Plasma Deposition™ technology, which is heralded as one of the most disruptive processes in additive manufacturing. “The growth potential of this company is beyond any doubt and we are very pleased to be part of its future; we intend to bring our close relationships within the technology sector to the fore,” he said. Norsk said the $25 million funding round follows the inclusion in the 2016 New York State budget of $125 million to support the development of its Plattsburgh, New York factory, which is part of the company’s proposed $1 billion, 10-year project in the state. The company also confirmed its participation at the Farnborough International Airshow from July 11-15, 2016, where it will exhibit a full-scale mock-up of its patented MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ machine that has been qualified at the world’s top echelon of aircraft manufacturers to produce structural titanium components. Australian Manufacturing

Australia Pacific LNG farewells first shipment to major Japanese customer Australia Pacific LNG, the largest producer of natural gas in eastern Australia, yesterday confirmed the first LNG shipment to the Kansai Electric Power Company. Image credit: www.aplng.com.au The cargo departed Curtis Island on Wednesday on board the LNG FUKUROKUJI which was built to fulfil Kansai Electric’s contract with Australia Pacific LNG. Under the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) – which was signed in 2012 – Kansai Electric is to receive approximately 1 million tonnes of LNG each year for 20 years. “The departure of Electric’s first cargo under the SPA represents another significant milestone in Australia Pacific’s history and highlights the strong partnership between our two companies. It also demonstrates the important role our business lays in delivering a cleaner form of energy to the global market,” said Australia Pacific LNG CEO, Page Maxon. “The shipment to Kansai Electric marks the 27th shipment by Australia Pacific LNG since exports began. We have been pleased with our operations from Train 1 and we expect to deliver the first cargo from Train 2 by the end of CY2016.” Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt welcomed the latest news from the state’s $60 billion liquefied natural gas industry, saying it was another milestone for the first coal seam gas to LNG project in the world. “This is the 27th shipment from APLNG and the first to Kansai Electric, a major electricity generator,” Mr Pitt said. “APLNG’s first shipment was in January, rounding out a trio of LNG ships leaving Queensland after Santos’ GLNG and QCLNG sending off their first shipments in 2015. He said the surge in overseas exports will see liquefied natural gas become the state’s second largest export worth up to $17 billion from 2018-19. “By 2018, Queensland could be the world’s fourth largest LNG exporter and, by the end of the decade, Australia has the potential to be the world’s leading LNG exporter,” the Treasurer added. Australia Pacific LNG was established in 2008 as a joint venture between ConocoPhillips (37.5%), Origin Energy (37.5%), and Sinopec (25%). Australian Manufacturing

Ausdrill completes sale of DTA’s drill bit manufacturing and distribution business Diversified mining services company Ausdrill has completed the sale of its Drilling Tools Australia (DTA) business to Robit Plc for $66 million. Image credit: Ausdrill Facebook page It follows the sale of its DT HiLoad truck tray manufacturing business to WA-based Schlam Engineering, which was completed in March 2016. According to the company’s ASX announcement, Robit will execute the payment in two tranches. The first tranche ($46.2 million) will be paid immediately, with the second tranche ($19.8 million) to be paid no later than 31 December 2016. Ausdrill said the transaction, which was announced in May this year, includes DTA’s drill bit manufacturing and distribution business, but excludes the net assets of DTA’s oil and gas and spare parts business, It said DTA will continue manufacturing operations at its facility in Canning Vale, Western Australia, under a five year leasing arrangement with Ausdrill. Ausdrill’s Managing Director Ron Sayers also told the ASX that the company entered into a 2.5 year supply arrangement with DTA for the supply of drill bits going forward. “We are pleased to have secured this agreement with Robit, which opens up a range for DTA and enables Ausdrill to focus on its core business,” he said, adding that proceeds from the sale will be used to fund future capital expenditure and to pay down debt. Australian Manufacturing

SME capability key to supporting Australia’s defence industry A Lockheed Martin Australia and Ai Group co-convened Forum gathered senior leaders from Australia’s industry, defence and academic communities to discuss the importance of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in helping Australia meet its security and defence industry objectives. Image credit: http://ift.tt/mBiDV4 Held last week, Securing Australia’s SME Defence Capability Forum explored the key challenges and opportunities for the growth of the nation’s SME sector, not only in the provision of Australia’s defence materiel, but also in the transition of the wider economy. The Forum included keynote speakers from Lockheed Martin Australia, University of South Australia, Nova Group, Defence Teaming Centre Inc, Defence Materials Technology Centre, UniSA Ventures, Ai Group South Australia and SAGE Group Holdings Ltd, all of whom advocated for a concerted focus on capability planning and R&D investment in Australia’s SME sector as critical for Australia’s defence industry. In his keynote address, Lockheed Martin Australia Board Member Kim Beazley highlighted the potential for the defence sector and the role of SMEs in securing Australia’s place on the global stage. “In rebalancing our economy in the context of the end of the mining boom, Australian industry has significant responsibilities. The defence sector will play a key role in this transition, and will provide substantial opportunities for our nation’s SMEs,” he said. “In order to facilitate growth and to foster innovation in the defence industry, it is imperative that we place a concerted focus on our SME sector and the opportunities to expand its capabilities. Investing in SMEs, including those spearheading new research and development, will expedite the transformation of Australian industry and ensure that Australia meets its security and economic objectives,” Kim Beazley said. Image credit: aigroup.com.au Ai Group Councillor and Managing Director SAGE Group Holdings Ltd, Andrew Downs also stressed the importance of SME’s in supporting and advancing Australia’s defence industry. “Today’s forum raised important questions about the future of Australia’s defence sector and placed a spotlight on the role of SMEs, particularly in taking advantage of the opportunities here in the South Australian market,” he said. “Industry collaboration and openness will play a key role in ensuring that we have a sustainable supply chain and reach targets for the broader industry.” Australian Manufacturing

Expressions of Interest for Advanced Food Manufacturing Grant now open South Australia’s Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell has invited food manufacturers and researchers to apply for up to $100,000 in funding under Round 3 of the State Government’s Advanced Food Manufacturing Grant program. Image credit: pir.sa.gov.au The State Government funded program supports jointly funded projects, which means businesses must match the cash contribution of grant funding for their project. Mr Bignell noted that preference will be given to projects demonstrating a focus on delivering a functional or luxury product. He said that in order to strengthen this round and boost the available funding to the sector, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA) partnered with Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL). “Innovation is critical to the growth and success of our food industry on a global stage. The partnership between PIRSA and FIAL as part of the South Australian Food Innovation Centre is helping to provide key industry support to ensure local food producers and manufacturers are able to effectively compete in global markets and continue to produce high-value products,” Mr Bignell. “The program is aimed at attracting applications from companies that are serious about investing in the future of their business and improving their capacity to grow and innovate. This strengthens the capability of our food industry, which in turn drives productivity, profitability and export competitiveness.” He remarked that PIRSA and FIAL were key partners under the South Australian Food Innovation Centre – a unique collaboration between the State Government, SA university research and development faculties and key state-based food industry associations and research bodies. “FIAL’s support encourage investment in and uptake of innovation across the sector, leading to improved productivity and export competitiveness. This program contributes to the State Government’s economic priority of Premium Food and Wine Produced in our Clean Environment and Exported to the World – encouraging businesses to maximise the production of value-added and differentiated food,” Minister Bignell said. FIAL’s Chairman, Mr Peter Schutz said FIAL was pleased to partner with PIRSA to help resolve the challenges facing South Australia’s food and agribusinesses. “We hope businesses will make the most of this opportunity to share in the future of the Australian food industry. This program is a great opportunity,” Mr Schutz said. “Food and agribusinesses often have challenges to address before they can grow, such as identifying new market opportunities, tailoring their packaging or adjusting the functionality of their product to meet their customer’s needs. This program will allow SA food and agribusinesses to undertake research into their business challenges and grow their capability.” Australian Manufacturing

Team Sentinel’s prototype sparks hope for Burnie to transform into an advanced manufacturing hub Team Sentinel, a consortium of companies primed by Elbit Systems of Australia, which is one of four groups that are bidding for the $2.7 billion contract to manufacture 225 Land 400 armoured vehicles, has unveiled its prototype Sentinel II vehicle. Image credit: www.army.gov.au The lucrative contract for designing, engineering, manufacturing and maintenance of the Land 400 Sentinel Military Vehicle would result in the opening of 1,000 jobs and soften the blow from Ford’s departure in 2016. Funded by the Federal Government’s Defence Capability Plan, the Land 400 Sentinel project is the world’s largest armoured vehicle project that could transform Geelong into an advanced manufacturing hub. The nature of the program requires high-technology manufacturing, advanced composite production, software development and maintenance, vehicle system integration and logistics skills. Elphinstone will build the hull and engine of the vehicles, while CBG Systems in Hobart will add its stealth blanket technology. The project is set to generate an estimated 150 jobs at Elphinstone over five years and 20 at CBG. Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said the unveiling of the Sentinel vehicle is major milestone for Team Sentinel and Tasmania. “Team Sentinel’s prototype, could be the beginning of the next combat reconnaissance vehicles that will be protecting Australian troops from 2020. And, for Tasmania, this could be the emergence of another competitive strength; defence manufacturing. Over the next few months Team Sentinel will be refining its offer and finalising its vehicle development with Tasmania’s Elphinstone’s support,” Mr Hodgman said. According to him, more $30 billion is spent every year on defence, and Tasmania gets less than 0.03 per cent of that amount. “Earlier this year we launched Our Fair Share of Defence Strategy. The strategy will target our fair share of defence spending by attracting, enabling and building defence industries in the State and promoting Tasmania as both a military supplier and a port for our Southern Ocean responsibilities,” the Premier said. “The Tasmanian Government has been proud to support the bid. While there are a many stages ahead, we will continue to support Team Sentinel every step of the way.” Australian Manufacturing

Ansell introduces new HyFlex ® ultralight oil repellent glove Ansell Limited, the global leader in healthcare barrier protection solutions, announced the introduction of the HyFlex 11-925, the first ultralight HyFlex® style to combine a ¾ dip geometry, oil repellence and oil grip in a single flexible glove. Image credit: www.ansell.com This innovative glove features Ansell RIPEL™ Liquid Repellence Technology, which prevents oil or lubricants from making contact with the wearer’s skin, reducing the risk of skin irritation. It also features Ansell GRIP™ Technology which is a patented grip feature that wicks away oil and moisture from the surface of the glove, ensuring safer handling and secure grip. Steve Genzer, President and General Manager of the Ansell Industrial Global Business Unit, said the result is a unique combination of flexibility, grip, and comfort that gives users the ability to do their jobs safely and productively, while minimising risk of irritation and discomfort. “We found a need in the industry for a glove that provides a secure grip in oily environments while also providing lasting comfort; otherwise workers just simply take off their gloves when they become saturated,” Mr Genzer said. “By combining our proprietary technologies, we’re able to offer an extremely thin, comfortable glove that still provides the protection and performance workers in oily environments need.” The 11-925 is the latest addition to the HyFlex line and the companion to the HyFlex 11-926, an oil-repellent multi-purpose glove launched last year to provide a light duty glove with enhanced durability for extended wear time. Both gloves share many of the same oil protection features, with the 11-925 offering a thinner and ultralight weight fit for increased dexterity, flexibility, and tactility for handling finer or smaller parts. Available in six sizes, Ansell ‘s HyFlex 11-925 gloves are ideal for a number of industries, including automotive and auto OEM, electrical machinery, metal fabrication, power tools, and transportation equipment. Ansell’s HyFlex brand was established in 1996 and has since become the world’s best-selling precision assembly glove with millions of pairs sold. Australian Manufacturing

German switch manufacturer turns to 3D printing to reduce prototype testing time by 85% 3D printing giant Stratasys announced that German switch manufacturer, Berker, is significantly reducing its production costs and time for testing electrical component prototypes by using Stratasys 3D printed injection moulds. Image credit: investors.stratasys.com The German company’s newly designed electrical component required parts produced using injection moulding. Once assembled, the parts had to pass an electrostatic discharge (ESD) test conducted by an independent testing agency which meant that the switch prototype had to use the same materials as the final part. Instead of using metal injection moulds to test the designs – which are very expensive and time consuming to produce – Berker decided to try 3D printed injection moulds produced on a Stratasys Conned multi-material 3D Printer. The company produced a series of 3D printed injection moulds using Stratasys Polymer 3D printing technology with Digital ABS™ material. Each 3D printed mould, with a different geometry, was used to inject a different final part material: ASA, PC and TPE. Krause, Head of Technical Department & Manufacturing, Berker said one of the biggest challenges was that the newly designed parts needed to fit precisely in order to snap fit together with an existing metal mould-produced part. “This new flexibility enables us to try out two or three different solutions at the same time to get the best result,” Mr Krause said. “The confirmed quality of our products produced using these functional prototypes has accelerated our R&D processes.” According to him, the new technology enabled Berker to achieve impressive results in terms of time and cost savings, with an average 83% reduction in cost per mould and 85% reduction in production time. “Stratasys 3D printed injection moulds have helped Berker save time and reduce costs while making working prototype assemblies in the final material,” added Mr Krause. “This technology is now used now all over our company to make sample parts in ‘real’ materials.” Nadav Sela, Director, Manufacturing Tools, Stratasys, said Berker were able to successfully overcome their challenges by 3D printing moulds that were used to produce their parts with the proper tolerances and material selection-all at a fraction of the time and cost of the traditional moulding process.. “3D printing injection moulds are often an optimal solution for product prototyping and low volume manufacturing,” Mr Sela said. “For a very low production cost and quick turnaround time, they enable the manufacturer to produce parts with complex geometries in final materials before investing in mass production. And after testing the injected prototype part, if designs need to be adjusted, a new mould can be produced in just a few hours, again saving significant time and expenditures.” Australian Manufacturing

Volkswagen to fork out $14.7m to settle diesel claims in US Volkswagen will pay approximately $14.7 million to resolve civil claims over its diesel cars with 2-liter diesel engines, including plans for buybacks and payments for each vehicle owner. Image credit: Volkswagen The deal, which represents the largest automotive settlement in the history of the US, will include up to $10 billion to buy back or repair approximately 475,000 vehicles equipped with 2-liter diesel engines which were rigged to pass emissions tests. The car maker said that the agreements covering the proposed settlement scheme were subject to a judge approval. “We take our commitment to make things right very seriously and believe these agreements are a significant step forward,” said Matthias Müller, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen AG. “We appreciate the constructive engagement of all the parties, and are very grateful to our customers for their continued patience as the settlement approval process moves ahead. We know that we still have a great deal of work to do to earn back the trust of the American people. We are focused on resolving the outstanding issues and building a better company that can shape the future of integrated, sustainable mobility for our customers.” The company said that it continues to work expeditiously to reach an agreed resolution for affected vehicles with 3.0L TDI V-6 diesel engines. Australian Manufacturing

Solar Impulse arrives in Europe, heralding a new era of environmentally friendly transport Solar Impulse, a groundbreaking solar aircraft, has completed the first of its kind flight across the Atlantic, demonstrating that the latest generation of sustainable technologies can pave the way for a new era of environmentally friendly transport systems and solutions. Solar Impulse 2 above the cloudsImage provided The pioneering aircraft completed a 71-hour transatlantic flight from New York to Seville as part of its remarkable round-the-world journey which began last year in Abu Dhabi. What makes this plane unique is the fact that it relies on the latest generation of solar cells, batteries and lightweight composites to achieve the once seemingly impossible task of flying around the world without using any fossil fuel whatsoever. “This aircraft is essentially a flying smart grid, using the energy collected from renewable sources and then providing it efficiently to users who may require it at a different period of time from when it was generated,” remarked André Borschberg, one of the aircraft’s two pilots. Another unique characteristic of Solar Impulse is its wingspan, which is greater than a 747 even though the solar aircraft weighs as much as an ordinary passenger car. In addition, the aircraft uses high-capacity lithium-polymer battery system to permit it to fly through the night as well as in full sunlight. “The world could be much more efficient if all of these technologies were implemented on a wide scale. This is exactly what our partners at ABB are doing – applying these innovations in a way that the entire world can use them,” said the project’s other pilot, Bertrand Piccard, who is Solar Impulse’s initiator and chairman. ABB’s CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer noted that Solar Impulse serves as just one strong current example of how advanced technologies are revolutionising the world of transportation. He said the company provides an expanding range of products and solutions that increase the efficiency of transport systems while reducing their environmental impacts on multiple fronts. “At ABB, we seek to find new ways to run the world without consuming the earth,” Mr Spiesshofer added. “Regenerative braking systems in electric trains, trams and other vehicles are also contributing to significant improvements in energy efficiency. ABB’s ENVILINE product portfolio incorporates regenerative braking and other high-efficiency strategies to reduce energy consumption in direct current rail traction systems by as much as 30 percent.” The development of new fast-charging stations, which can recharge the battery packs in the latest vehicles in just a few minutes, also contributed greatly to the rapid acceptance of electric buses and other EVs. A new public bus system in Geneva and one currently under construction in Namur, Belgium, make use of fast-chargers from ABB to provide cost-efficient zero-emission transport that will improve air quality and reduce congestion in city centres around the world. Marine transport has also benefited from recent innovations. ABB’s Azipod propulsion systems, a gearless steerable marine propulsion system where the electric drive motor is in a submerged pod outside the ship hull, allow for dramatic increases in manoeuvrability and efficiency, delivering fuel savings of approximately 700,000 tonnes since its launch 25 years ago. The company’s OCTOPUS solution uses big data, smart sensors and advanced connectivity to provide guidance to ship operators on the most efficient routes to follow, while also giving warnings of potential hazards. “We are seeing huge new opportunities in the field of sustainable transport,” commented Mr Spiesshofer. “Recent technological developments are opening the way to major advances in energy efficiency and productivity. We are only just beginning to realise the full potential of these changes.” Australian Manufacturing

Rockwell Automation is now accepting nominations for 2016 Manufacturing Safety Excellence Awards The application period for Rockwell Automation’s fourth annual Manufacturing Safety Excellence Awards is now open. Image provided The awards recognise manufacturers, machine builders (OEMs) or system integrators that demonstrate a true commitment to safety across three key pillars of a comprehensive safety program: a strong safety culture, well-executed compliance procedures, and effective use of current, machine-safety technology. “Last year’s winners – The Clorox Company, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC) – were selected because they embrace safety as a means to achieve business goals,” said Mark Eitzman, safety market development manager, Rockwell Automation. “They go beyond compliance and make safety an integral part of the company culture and machine design processes – improving plant productivity and company profitability.” Jason Stover, senior electrical project engineer, PCMC said winning the 2015 award highlighted the company’s commitment to improving machine safety for its customers. “As an OEM, we differentiate ourselves from competitors by guiding our customers through the safety process and educating them on the opportunities safety presents. Some might not recognise safety as a fundamental part of equipment, but by the time we’re done, they see the value,” Mr Stover remarked. The awards also recognise companies that have successful collaboration between their engineering and EHS departments, which greatly reduces injury rates while also improving production efficiency. “We achieve success with everyone in the organisation working and learning together, including engineering, EHS and operations,” said Dennis G. Averill, CIH, CSP, global director of safety and hygiene, Kimberly-Clark. “This collaboration is not only done conceptually, but also during the actual execution of risk assessments, safety standards development and more.” The 2016 winners will be announced in the fall, joining a distinguished list of past winners including Bevcorp, Corning Environmental Technologies, General Motors, Procter & Gamble and the PepsiCo divisions of Walkers Crisps and Pepsi Flavors. “To nominate a company, complete the entry form and email it to swludwig@ra.rockwell.com with “Safety Excellence Awards Nomination” in the subject line or mail it to the following address: Rockwell Automation, Attn: Steve Ludwig – Safety Excellence Awards, 1 Allen Bradley Drive, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124,” Rockwell said in a press release. Nominations close on 31 August, 2016. Australian Manufacturing

NSL Consolidated to build greenfield steel plant in India Australia-based dual bulk commodity company NSL Consolidated has signed a binding agreement with Wei Hua, China’s leading heavy equipment crane building company, for the joint development of a Greenfield steel making plant in Andhra Pradesh. Wei Hua’s blast furnace shell ready for deploymentImage credit: NSL Consolidated ASX release The joint venture company will be established with a 50/50 shareholding, with no funding required from NSL. Under the agreement, NSL will be responsible for all associated approvals for the construction and operation of the steel plant, and will also conduct the latest market research report on the iron and steel industry in India which will help determine the size and scale of the proposed steel plant project. The company will have the option to sell iron ore to the steel plant or into the local market at local prices, while Wei Hua to provide all steel plant equipment, the majority of which has already been acquired and is ready for deployment. According to NSL, the JV will leverage the Chinese Government’s “one road, one belt” investment strategy with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, with discussions with the Andhra Pradesh Government (GoAP) for land, power, water and other utilities approvals already underway. “We are very excited by the strengthening of the relationship with Wei Hua and the progression towards the proposed steel plant,” said Managing Director Cedric Goode. “The execution of the binding agreement also provides further validation of the strong relationships and ties that NSL has built within India and in particularly the GoAP. India is currently the world’s third largest producer of crude steel.” He said NSL was looking forward to building value for shareholders as the only foreign company to own and operate iron ore mines in India. “When you consider the Company now has a track record of operating in India, with its own mines and beneficiation plant, and from its own operations has achieved iron ore sales, established offtake agreements with JSW Steel and BMM Ispat, obtained strong continuing government support and now attained the support of a large Chinese company with a commitment to enter the Indian economy, it is certainly exciting times.” According to him, the binding agreement is valid for a period of 12 months, with both parties reserving the right to terminate by giving 30 days notice. Australian Manufacturing

Mayne Pharma to acquire a portfolio of US generic products from Teva and Allergen ASX-listed specialty pharmaceutical company Mayne Pharma has entered into a binding agreement to acquire a portfolio of US generic products from Teva and Allergen for $652 million. Image credit: www.maynepharma.com Mayne said that the portfolio – which consists of 37 approved products and 5 FDA filed products across a range of therapeutic areas – aligns strongly with its core competency in complex pharmaceutical formulations and includes difficult-to-manufacture, modified-release tablets and capsules, soft-gel capsules and transdermal patches. According to the company, up to eleven of the acquired products will be transferred into Mayne Pharma’s commercial manufacturing facilities in Greenville, North Carolina, and Salisbury, South Australia. “This will accelerate the use of existing and previously announced expansions to manufacturing capacity, and enable additional margin to be captured over time, improving overhead recovery and the return on recent capital invested to expand these facilities,” the company said in a press release. Mayne Pharma’s CEO, Scott Richards, said the acquisition will significantly transform the scope and breadth of the company’s US generics division and will propel Mayne Pharma into the top 25 retail generic pharmaceutical companies and the top 2 in the generic oral contraceptives market in the United States. “The acquisition transforms Mayne Pharma’s Generic Products Division into a top 25 player in the US retail generics market, diversifying Mayne Pharma’s earnings across a broad range of products, therapeutic areas and technologies. ”This attractive Portfolio spans multiple dosage forms and complements our expertise in higher-value niche, differentiated products. The on-market products have strong shares in stable, mature markets, while the pipeline products are expected to deliver additional growth in attractive markets as they are launched over the next couple of years.” Mayne Pharma said it will fund the acquisition via an extension of an existing debt facility, and a fully underwritten equity raising on the ASX. Australian Manufacturing

Airbus uses innovative 3D printed mini aircraft to test high-tech concepts Airbus is using a small-sized, 3D printed pilotless aircraft as a testbed for futuristic aircraft technologies ranging from 3D printed structural parts to advanced aerodynamics and artificial intelligence. Image credit: www.airbus.com Powered by two 1.5 kW electrically-driven propellers, this mini aircraft– known as THOR (Testing High-tech Objectives in Reality) – weighs approximately 21 kg and can fit in a four-metre-by-four-metre square. About 90% of its structural components were 3D printed from plastic polyamide powder. “This mini aircraft does not represent an actual airliner design Airbus is considering, rather it is a platform to enable low-risk and fast-track development of different technologies in real flying conditions,” explained Detlev Konigorski of Airbus’ Emerging Technologies & Concepts activity in Germany, who oversees the THOR project. “The first version was to test whether the slogan “Print me an airplane” can be converted into reality.” According to Airbus, a major advantage for THOR is the short lead time of 3D printing, which significantly reduced development time for producing the technology demonstrator compared to traditional manufacturing methods. “Using an existing design concept, it took approximately seven weeks to print the THOR aircraft’s 60 structural segments, followed by approximately one week for assembly and three days to fine tune the electrical systems before it was flight-ready,” the company said in a press release. THOR’s maiden flight occurred in November 2015, and the mini aircraft is resuming testing following its display at the recent Airbus Innovation Days exhibition and the ILA Berlin Air Show. “The first flight was simply about flying,” Mr Konigorski said. “Now, we want to generate basic data on things like altitude, speed and acceleration in a turn.” Airbus is currently assembling follow-on THOR versions at the new Center of Applied Aeronautical Research in Hamburg, Germany, in which Airbus is a major partner and shareholder. The company said that these aircraft will feature a modular design allowing for greater flexibility in airframe and structural testing. “For example, the second THOR version will accommodate interchangeable wings, including concepts for a hexagonal wing with support structure derived from a honeycomb design; a metallic aluminium wing; and a flexible wing made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastics,” reads the press release. “Once wing testing is complete, the THOR project will focus on artificial intelligence in collaboration with the Airbus Defence and Space business unit of the Airbus Group parent company. The idea is for a THOR aircraft to land completely on its own, identifying obstacles on the runway and determining whether it is safe to touch down without support from any ground infrastructure.” According to Mr Konigorski, another important aspect of the THOR project is the team’s “willing-to-fail approach,” which helps Airbus push the envelope of experimentation. He said the goal was to implement high-risk ideas on flying vehicles as soon as possible. “If a THOR aircraft takes off, and after 30 feet makes a nose dive back the ground, our attitude is: ‘good, let’s sweep it off the runway and come up with a better idea,” Mr Konigorski said. “In a few weeks, we can print a new aircraft!” Australian Manufacturing

Fitmycar receives funding to boost manufacturing output and create new jobs Victoria’s Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan announced a $42,000 state government grant for Ravenhall based manufacturer Fitmycar to help the company enhance its facilities and exports by more than $1 million. Image credit: www.fitmycar.com Fitmycar is a manufacturer and distributor of premium quality aftermarket vehicle floor mats and accessories. Mr Noonan, who toured the company’s facility in Ravenhall on Monday, said the grant will enable Fitmycar to purchase and install a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine that will transform the company’s manual manufacturing process into a highly automated workflow system. He said the CNC machine will also help the company increase its exports to the US market, create five new manufacturing jobs and upskill three of its existing staff. “The Andrews Labor Government is helping manufacturers to invest in new technologies and processes that will transition Victoria towards an advanced manufacturing economy,” the Minister pointed out. The grant is part of the Labor Government’s Future Industries Manufacturing Program, which is one of three industry programs under the Future Industries Fund to support high growth industries and create jobs. Companies can apply for grants of up to $500,000 under the Manufacturing Program to invest in new manufacturing technologies and processes that will create sustainable jobs and increase productivity. “Our Future Industries Manufacturing Program is giving businesses like Fitmycar the support they need to improve their capabilities, take on new workers and target growth opportunities,” Mr Noonan concluded. Australian Manufacturing

ABB collects prestigious innovation award at Automatica 2016 ABB showcased an entire range of products and solutions to support the flexible, connected Factory of the Future at Automatica 2016 fair in Munich last week under the themes for Collaboration and Digitalisation. Image credit: ABB ABB was recognised for YuMi, the world’s first truly collaborative robot, with the prestigious Invention and Entrepreneurship in Robotics Award (IERA) at the International Symposium of Robotics. The award was presented in a forum organised jointly by IEEE Robotics and the International Federation of Robotics. YuMi is a human-friendly dual arm robot that was launched in 2015 to meet the ever growing needs of today’s consumer electronics industry. Per Vegard Nerseth, Managing Director of ABB Robotics, said the company was pleased to have won the prestigious award that recognises the technical merits and the current and future impact of innovations on the robotics industry. “We are pleased with the YuMi solution’s strong penetration in our targeted 3C sector, but what is especially encouraging is all the completely new customers talking to us at Automatica about collaborative applications,” Mr Nerseth said. “These emerging opportunities are at the heart of our Next Level growth strategy.” ABB also presented its IRB 8700 robot, capable of lifting up to 800 kg. This robot was also shown in a collaborative application with the company’s new SafeMove2, an advanced safety-certified software solution that allows people and robots to safely work together without jeopardising productivity. Digitalisation was a key topic as part of an integrated ecosystem ABB calls the Internet of Things, Services and People. Automatica 2016, the world’s largest showcase for robotics and manufacturing automation, saw the global introduction of a new suite of Connected Services that can substantially improve the performance and reliability of individual robots up to entire fleets spread across several factories. “Automatica is always a great opportunity to talk to the top decision makers here in Germany, where digitalisation and Industry 4.0 are high on the agenda,” added Mr Nerseth, “But this year we also had the opportunity to talk with new customers from the Americas and Asia too who are looking for solutions to improve the flexibility and efficiency of their operations and move in the direction of the Factory of the Future. This is truly a global topic.” Australian Manufacturing

UK’s favourite snack food brand to create 120 manufacturing jobs in Melbourne Leading English potato crisps maker Tyrrells has selected Victoria to expand its brand into the Australian and Asia Pacific markets. Image credit: http://ift.tt/292eEFl The company will invest in Victorian food processing company Yarra Valley Snack Foods – which will also continue to produce its own popular lines of snacks – creating 120 manufacturing jobs in Melbourne’s outer east. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said the Andrews Labour Government has worked closely with Tyrrell’s to facilitate the company’s maiden investment outside of the UK. “The Andrews Labour Government is working with companies like Tyrrell’s to bring in investment that create jobs across Melbourne and regional Victoria,” the Minister said. “This investment will create 120 manufacturing jobs in Melbourne’s outer east and also support Victorian farmers, with the company sourcing high quality raw ingredients from the local region.” Tyrrell’s’ CEO David Milner said the decision to invest in Victoria was influenced by the state’s reputation as a clean, green and safe manufacturer and exporter of premium quality food and beverages, as well as by its stable AAA rated economy. “Quality is at the very heart of everything we do and we found that there was nowhere else able to match, in terms of what was available to us, the Yarra Valley region in Victoria,” Mr Milner added. “Victoria is a very straightforward place to do business and that helped inform the decision making process for us, having our headquarters on the other side of the globe.” Tyrrell’s was founded in 2002 and has since grown to become one of the UK’s leading snack food brands, producing crisps, popcorn, rice crackers and tortillas using high quality, locally-sourced ingredients. Australian Manufacturing

Downer Bombardier JV wins supply and maintenance contract with WA’s Public Transport Authority Rail technology specialist Bombardier Transportation announced that its Australian joint venture (JV) with Downer EDI – known as EDI Rail Bombardier Transportation – has been awarded a contract by Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority (PTA) to supply an additional 10 three-car commuter trains (30 cars). Image credit: www.bombardier.com The contract, which represents an extension of PTA’s original award for B Series EMU trains in 2011, runs until 2026 and also involves the provision of maintenance services on all “A” and “B” series commuter fleets. Bombardier said the contract is valued at approximately $511 million. “We are delighted to continue to support our long-term customer PTA with these additional B Series EMU trains and maintenance services,” said Rene Lalande, Managing Director, Bombardier Transportation Australia. “In addition to increasing capacity on Perth’s commuter network, these trains provide a comfortable and sustainable mobility solution for the city’s growing community. Bombardier will also apply its asset management expertise to optimise the total performance of PTA’s commuter fleets, boosting reliability and availability for the train operator and its passengers.” According to the company, the trains will be equipped with the proven BOMBARDIER MITRAC Energy Saver propulsion, which is homogenous across all Bombardier’s EMU fleets in Australia. Downer EDI’s CEO Grant Fenn said the new 10 x 3 B series units will be manufactured at the company’s facility in Maryborough, Queensland and be delivered to the PTA by December 2020. “These new contracts highlight Downer’s complete service offering and our ability to deliver value for our customers,” Mr Fenn concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Austal wins A$100m commercial ferry contract Austal has landed its fourth commercial ferry contract in the past month with the signing of an A$100 million agreement to design and construct a 109 metre vehicle passenger (RoPax) ferry for Denmark’s Mols Linien. Image credit: www.austal.com According to Austal, the ferry will be built at its Henderson shipyard and will be the largest commercial ferry built by the company since 2011. “The 109 metre RoPax ferry is an enhanced design based on Austal’s proven catamaran platform, with a new optimised hull shape and vessel weight minimisation solution that delivers better performance and greater fuel efficiency,” the company said in a statement to the ASX. “Innovations such as these will enable Mol’s new high speed ferry to achieve lower operating costs and deliver an enhanced passenger experience.” The first-in-class vessel will feature two fill vehicle decks for 425 cars, or 610 lane metres for trucks and up to 232 cars. Additionally, the all-aluminium catamaran will have a capacity to carry up to 1,006 passengers safely and comfortably at speeds up to 40 knots. “Once again Austal has demonstrated that it is a world leader in ship design and construction with the sale of this newly optimised class of very large 109 metre ferry to a highly discerning customer, which has led to this reference customer sale,” said Austal CEO David Singleton. “In the past two months Austal has secured more than A$400 million in new orders for defence and commercial vessels which clearly demonstrates our success in developing technically superior and highly cost competitive solutions for domestic and export markets. Austal is proud to put Australian ship building on the world stage.” Australian Manufacturing

Australia’s first green-fuel biorefinery could soon become reality The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will support the development of Australia’s first “biorefinery” capable of producing renewable diesel and jet fuels from plant material. Image credit: http://arena.gov.au/ RENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the agency will provide $2.4 million funding support for Southern Oil Refining (SOR) to develop and construct a cutting edge biocrude and biofuel laboratory in Yarwun, near Gladstone. He said the project will inform the feasibility and design of a proposed commercial scale biorefinery, which could deliver significant economic benefits for the country. “Our agricultural industries have an abundance of plant waste that can be ideal biocrude feedstock and there are several potential markets for selling green fuels including aviation, shipping and defence,” Mr Frischknecht said. “ARENA has previously supported Australian companies like Muradel and Licella to develop innovative technologies for producing biocrude but there is currently no way of refining this into large quantities of useable biofuels. A new biorefinery would be the first step in providing the missing link in the development of an Australian biofuels industry.” He said SOR had in place in-principle agreements with Muradel and Licella for the supply of biocrude for refining, demonstrating how ARENA-supported companies can work together towards achieving commercial outcomes. “The United States Navy has a 50 per cent target for alternative energy sources by 2020 and the Royal Australian Navy has signed an agreement to explore using more environmentally friendly fuels, significantly increasing demand for green-fuels,” Mr Frischkencht added. “Major Australian airlines are also considering these fuels to meet industry-agreed emission reduction targets, with Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia recently announcing a partnership to investigate options for locally-produced aviation biofuel.” According to Mr Frischknecht, the project will support the business case for building a biorefinery for producing renewable diesel and jet fuels. “The test laboratory ARENA is supporting will characterise biocrudes and biofuels and provide a blueprint for the refinery,” he added. “SOR will carry out testing and reporting to produce valuable knowledge for Australia’s bioenergy industry. New protocols for the conversion of biocrudes to drop-in fuels will also be established. This new knowledge and infrastructure is an important and necessary step towards attracting further investment in the biofuels supply chain in Australia.” The project, valued at $5.3 million, is scheduled for completion in March 2019. Australian Manufacturing

Quickstep moves into automotive production to deliver on contracts with several multinational companies Quickstep Holdings yesterday welcomed Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at its Waurn Ponds facility in Victoria. Image credit: http://ift.tt/23mddD6 During his visit, Mr Turnbull toured the company’s new advanced composites manufacturing operation and announced the Coalition Government’s commitment to a $20 million Jobs and Investment package for the Geelong region. “We are delighted to welcome the Prime Minister to our Waurn Ponds facility which is now in production supporting automotive contracts for Ford, Thales and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology,” said David Marino, CEO and Managing Director of Quickstep. “We have also begun collaborative projects with several multinational companies using our patented Qure and resin spray transfer (RST) technologies. Our global R&D centre is making great progress as we invest to raise Qure’s volume production rate.” Mr Marino said Quickstep has completed the first set of composite parts for Thales Australia’s Hawkei light protected vehicle using RST as the exclusive supplier of Hawkei bonnet, side skirts and mud guards. “The company will deliver ten sets of parts – comprising more than 150 individual components – for testing by end-September 2016. Thales Australia will supply 1,100 Hawkei military vehicles and 1,000 trailers for the Australian government,” Mr Marino added. The company is also manufacturing carbon fibre air intake ducts for the Ford Falcon XR6 Sprint sportscar, which is the first mass-produced Ford passenger vehicle globally to have a carbon-fibre air intake duct factory-fitted. In addition, Quickstep is engaged in development projects with several tier-1 industry suppliers. These projects are co-funded by Quickstep and its collaboration partners – including two leading vehicle manufacturers, a global aircraft manufacturer, and a French naval shipbuilding company (DCNS) – and are expected to lead to niche production contracts. Quickstep operates from state-of-the-art aerospace manufacturing facilities at Bankstown Airport in Sydney, NSW; the aforementioned production site for automotive parts manufacturing and R&D/ process development centre in Waurn Ponds; and a development and customer support operation in Munich, Germany. The company’s automotive division has been supported by a grant of $1.76 million through the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund (GRIIF), an initiative funded by the Federal and Victorian governments and Ford Australia. Australian Manufacturing

Bowhill Engineering wins hull contract as part of $12.8m ferry project The South Australian Government has selected Bowhill Engineering to replace the two remaining timber-hulled ferries operating on the River Murray following a competitive tender process which entertained offers from a total of five businesses. Image credit: www.boweng.com.au The contract was awarded as part of the state government’s $12.8 million initiative to replace four ageing timber-hulled ferries with steel-hulled ferries. Prior to winning this tender, Bowhill Engineering was also selected to construct the first two steel hulls, with one ferry already in operation at Lyrup neat Berri. The second hull is currently being fitted out at the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure’s Morgan dockyard and is scheduled for launch next month, with the final two ferries expected to be operational by 2018. Bowhill Engineering’s Managing Director Jeremy Hawkes said the company was thrilled to have been chosen to deliver the second part of this important regional project. “At the beginning of the ferry replacement project back in 2014, we set ourselves the ambitious goal of providing unprecedented value for money to DPTI and the South Australian taxpayer,” Mr Hawkes said. “The opportunity for our dedicated team to deliver the second part of this project is verification that we have been able to deliver on this goal. Local people having a chance to deliver important local infrastructure, creating and maintaining regional employment, does it get any better than that?” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said the project will provide job stability for the company’s skilled workforce of about 25 people, and support growth for up to three additional staff. “It is great to see a local company awarded this contract. Through the competitive tender process Bowhill Engineering demonstrated that it is the best-placed business to build the remaining two ferry hulls,” the Minister said. “Load limits can cause inconvenience for ferry users and can impact on productivity, particularly for farmers and transport operators who are forced to find alternative routes.” He said the investment will help to improve the reliability of the ferry services along the River Murray by lifting the remaining load limits on the existing timber-hulled vessels. “We are very pleased to have a local River Murray business undertaking this work on behalf of communities along the River Murray and we look forward to delivering the full fleet to steel-hulled ferries,” the Minister concluded. Australian Manufacturing

3D Systems showcases latest advancements in direct metal printing alongside leading aerospace and defense companies Top aerospace and defense manufacturers have shared best practices for leveraging metal additive manufacturing in end-use part production at an Aerospace and Defence Practicum for Direct Metal Printing (DMP) hosted by 3D Systems with industry leaders and Department of Defence experts at Pennsylvania State University. Image credit: www.3dsystems.com This two-day, hands-on workshop and demonstration, which was held on 21-22 June, featured talks by experts from leading aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers including Pratt & Whitney, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, United Technologies Aerospace Systems and many more. The event was designed to educate existing and potential customers on the unique challenges of supporting the aerospace and defense sector while introducing them to new industry-specific tools currently under development. A growing number of aerospace and defense manufacturers are turning to DMP to reduce part weight and count through innovative design enhancements that were previously impossible using traditional processes. The aerospace and defense sector is sensitive to obtaining high quality parts for demanding operating conditions. As such, it is characterised by stringent regulations and qualification processes that serve as “de facto barriers” to entry for suppliers. 3D Systems’ metal engineers, in collaboration with leading experts and standards bodies, has offered hands-on training on the company’s DMP technology, and provided guidance on best practices and protocols in industry specific metal applications. Additionally, the company showcased an upcoming print process management tool for workflow management in DMP and its latest advancements in in-situ monitoring for precise print outcomes. Neal Orringer, Vice President of Alliances and Partnerships, 3D Systems, said these new capabilities offer 3D Systems’ DMP users software strategies for optimised printer operation as well as novel non-destructive methodologies for evaluating and qualifying prints inside machine build chambers. “DMP technology offers the aerospace and defense sector high strength and low weight production,” Mr Orringer said. “However, we recognise that our customers require more than that: they need to be armed with quality control protocols and tools that ensure repeatability, productivity, and precision. We’re combining our in-house metals expertise with the insights of industry leaders and partners to drive innovation and adoption in this key area for additive manufacturing.” Australian Manufacturing

Orica CEO: customer-centric strategy and disciplined capital management key to success in unfavourable market environment Orica CEO Alberto Calderon yesterday delivered a speech to the WA Mining Club in which he talked about leading an organisation through every part of the commodities cycle. Image credit: www.orica.com In his opening speech, Mr Calderon talked about challenges facing the mining industry in recent years following the end of Australia’s mining boom. “It would be an understatement to say that the past few years have been challenging. China’s growth has slowed and that, combined with a subdued pricing outlook for metals and mining, has delivered a perfect storm,” Mr Calderon said. “And the dark clouds only seem darker when we remember that in the 10 years leading into 2014 we were in the midst of the biggest mining boom in generations.” He said that despite the current downturn in commodity prices, the cyclical nature of the mining industry left room for optimism that the sector will recover in years to come. “While the current environment presents serious challenges, we are playing a long game. We have a 140 year legacy – a testament to our resilience and adaptability. We believe that over the next few years, we will be able to grow our business by executing against the following strategies,” Mr Calderon added. “We believe our differentiation strategy will allow us to outperform the market. Additionally, our focus on customer centricity will improve the penetration of our differentiated products and services.” He said the key to success in such volatile market conditions was to turn to stringent and disciplined approach to capital management. “Now, more than ever before, we have to ensure that every dollar invested in the business delivers a satisfactory return,” he pointed out. “We implemented a Capital and Investment Management framework, governed by a formalised Investment Committee with Terms of Reference and Standards. The framework ranks, using consistent metrics, all the capital projects in the company on a scale of 0-300. This enables us to compare completely different projects on a like for like basis, and then deploy capital to the highest ranking projects as a priority.” Mr Calderon said that Orica has also turned its attention to defining its long-term, optimal initiation systems supply network. “Orica has a highly geographically dispersed Initiation Systems manufacturing footprint, which we need to leverage more effectively for the benefit of our customers and Orica, while not compromising on the elements that are most important to our customers – safety, reliability and quality,” he explained. “To ensure we deliver against these factors we have embarked on a project that will utilise our highly automated plants, like those in Gyttorp (Sweden) and Brownsburg (Canada), to produce a high quality product, consistently and efficiently.” He said the company was striving to perfect and support the right operating model that places customers at the heart of everything the company does. “We reflected on the best way to organise ourselves – one that is efficient and delivers the greatest value to our customers. We designed a new operating model with our customers at the centre. This then defined how we are structured around the world, to enable the successful execution of our strategy and improve our responsiveness to customers,” he said. “The result is a model where the four regions, Australia Pacific and Indonesia; Europe, Africa and Asia; North America and Latin America have accountability for end-to-end customer service delivery, operational and financial performance.” Australian Manufacturing

ARENA bridge funding shows cost of big solar projects is shrinking The Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) announced that it received 20 eligible applications for its large-scale solar PV competitive funding round which closed last week. Image credit: arena.gov.aumoree ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the agency’s program to support the construction of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Australia has shown how quickly the cost of building new plants is falling as momentum in the sector builds. “ARENA is playing a vital role providing bridge funding for projects that will make large-scale solar PV more competitive by increasing confidence and building supply chains. Our funding round has already reduced costs through competitive tension and encouraged a portfolio of new Australian solar plants to proceed to more advanced stages of planning and development,” Mr Frischknecht said. “Moree Solar Farm and AGL’s Nyngan and Broken Hill plants needed around $1.60 in ARENA funding per watt. The funding requirement for new projects fell to 43 cents per watt in the expression-of-interest phase of our funding round in November last year. The need fell again by more than a third to an average of 28 cents per watt in the full applications. This clearly demonstrates how quickly large-scale solar PV costs are falling supported by ARENA funding, which has resulted in rising confidence, lower finance costs and a more supportive market for power purchase agreements.” Mr Frischknecht stressed that despite these substantial cost reductions, the development of large-scale solar PV projects was still constrained by various commercial hurdles. “Doing something the first few times is always harder and more expensive, and building large-scale solar PV plants is no exception,” Mr Frischknecht said. “We arranged a knowledge sharing forum for existing ARENA-supported developers to pass on their experience to the new shortlisted developers, fostering collaboration, sharing solutions to common problems and advancing the industry as a whole. And growth in the local large-scale solar PV sector will provide a significant boost for Australia’s regional economy, with our competitive funding round estimated to create upwards of 1000 new jobs in construction, manufacturing and civil engineering.” ARENA said that detailed due diligence and merit assessment analysis of the 20 applications is now being undertaken, with the successful projects expected to be announced in September this year. Australian Manufacturing

Universal Robots unveils showroom of plug & play applications Danish company Universal Robots has announced the launch of Universal Robots+, a showroom of plug & play applications that offer a new level of simplicity for the company’s customers when installing a new robot application. Image credit: Universal Robots official Facebook page The company said that the aim of Universal Robots+ was to reduce costs and implementation periods, as well as increase user satisfaction and experience. “Universal Robots+ offers accessories, end-effectors and software solutions meaning both distributors and end users can save weeks and even months in the integration process from concept to operation of the UR cobots,” Universal Robot said in a press release. “URCaps, accessory components that extend the UR robots’ capabilities, can be customised hardware components, software plug-ins or a combination of both.” Esben H. Østergaard, CTO and co-founder of Universal Robots, said the company was also launching +YOU, a free developer programme, offering a marketing and support platform for UR-robot application developers. “With Universal Robots+, everyone can benefit, including our developer community, our distribution partners and our end customers,” Mr Østergaard said. “Participants in our developer programme +YOU will receive free support when developing URCaps. By integrating the accessory components showcased at the Universal Robots+ showroom, our distribution partners and end users reduce spending on application development and testing when they deploy the URCaps as simple plug & play solutions.” Stefan Tøndering Stubgaard, Manager of Universal Robots’ Corporate Technical Support explained how developers and distributors will benefit from Universal Robots+. “When developers have received our approval for designing within Universal Robots+, we will support them via our local subsidiaries by providing robots for testing and optimising URCaps,” Mr Stubgaard said. “On request, robots can also be purchased at a reduced price, given that they will be used exclusively for the development and testing of new UR-related components.” After completion of a URCaps prototype, the developer will send it to Universal Robots for examination. “Before a new product can be presented in our showroom, we verify its quality. In comprehensive functionality tests, we test whether the URCap can be implemented and operated easily and if the product conforms to Universal Robots’ quality requirements,” Mr Stubgaard added. Additionally, developers can get their URCaps certified by Universal Robots by documenting that their solution is already operating in a real application and is used successfully by a customer. “Having capabilities featured in the Universal Robots+ showroom is free of charge for developers. In providing this, Universal Robots offers all developers a professional marketing platform granting them access to an ever expanding, global customer network. Sales of all products and capabilities revolving around the UR-robots’ universe will continue to be provided through Universal Robots’ established network of distribution partners,” read the press release. “In this way, distributors also benefit from this central platform, where they can both offer and access applications developed specifically for the use with UR robots. Universal Robots+ is the toolbox that tailors optimal solutions for their individual customer needs.” Universal Robots said that in order to enter the Universal Robots+ Community and have their application solutions featured in the Universal Robots+ showroom, developers must complete a free registration in the +YOU community forum where developers can submit their application ideas. “After meeting registration criteria, the developers will receive access to the +YOU online forum, where they can exchange questions and ideas. In addition, all members of the community will receive access to the company-internal developer support, which will assist (if necessary) in developing a market mature application. Additionally, the URCaps Software Development Kit can be downloaded free-of-charge,” it says in the press release. The launch of Universal Robots+ coincided with the introduction of a new update for the robot arms’ operating software. Mr Østergaard said the new release (Software Version 3.3) includes updates such as the Profinet IO device functionality. According to him, the new compatibility with Profinet protocols opens up numerous additional areas of deployment and activities for robots. “A key feature of the update supporting the Universal Robots+ platform is the ability for providers to now offer solutions that interface seamlessly with the UR software,” he concluded. Universal Robots+ and the +YOU forum are now accessible online, with the first URCaps are on display in the Universal Robots+ Showroom. Australian Manufacturing

GE to lead US Department of Energy’s advanced 3D printing nuclear technology research project GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) has been selected by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to lead a $2 million additive manufacturing research project. Image: http://twitter.com/generalelectricGE Under the agreement, GEH will manufacture simple replacement parts for nuclear power plants. These samples will be 3D printed in metal at the GE Power Advanced Manufacturing Works facility in Greenville, South Carolina, and will then be shipped to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). “Once irradiated in INL’s Advanced Test Reactor, the samples will be removed, tested and compared to an analysis of unirradiated material conducted by GEH,” the company said in a press release. Jay Wileman, President and CEO of GEH said the results will be used by GEH to support deployment of 3D printed parts for fuels, services and new plant applications. “The potential of 3D printing to speed delivery time and reduce the cost of manufacturing performance-enhancing replacement parts for nuclear power plants is quite significant,” Mr Wileman added. “We want to recognise the Department of Energy for its leadership in advanced nuclear research and we look forward to working with the Idaho National Laboratory.” The project, which is part of a more than $80million investment in advanced nuclear technology announced last week by DOE, will use Nuclear Science User Facilities funding to provide GEH with access to world-class neutron and gamma irradiation and post-irradiation examination services. The GE Power Advanced Manufacturing Works facility in Greenville opened in April. GE has invested $73 million in the 125,000-square-foot facility to date and is planning to invest further $327 million across the GE Power Greenville campus over the next several years to drive innovation and the faster development of best-in-class technologies that deliver more value for customers across the world. Australian Manufacturing

GM appoints Alicia Boler-Davis as head of GM Global Manufacturing and Labor Relations General Motors has named Alicia Boler-Davis to the position of executive vice president, Global Manufacturing, effective immediately. Image credit: GM Facebook page Ms Boler-Davis will succeed Mr Jim DeLuca, who is retiring after a 37-year career that included key positions in manufacturing, labor relations and quality. Ms Boler-Davis’ career in GM began in 1994. Since then, she served in various engineering and manufacturing leadership positions, including vehicle line director and vehicle chief engineer for small cars and plant manager for Lansing’s Consolidated Operations and Arlington Assembly. In 2012, she was appointed head of Global Quality and Customer Experience and two years later she was promoted to the position of senior vice president, Global Connected Customer Experience. Ms Boler-Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University, a master’s degree in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Indiana University. In her new role, Ms Boler-Davis will report to GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra, and will lead 180,000 employees at 171 facilities in 31 countries. She will also have responsibility for labor relations. “With all the change facing our industry in the next several years, Alicia’s vast and diverse experience and proven track record for delivering results will help ensure our global manufacturing performance and capabilities are aligned to meet the challenges ahead,” said Ms Barra. “Alicia’s strong manufacturing background, combined with her recent roles leading quality and the customer experience, will allow us to grow an even stronger customer-focused link to our people and processes in manufacturing.” Ms Barra also thanked Ms DeLuca for his many years of service with the company. “Jim has played a key role in driving significant improvements across the globe in quality and manufacturing costs,” she said “Jim’s dedication and strong commitment to building relationships throughout his career has set an example for his team and the company.” Mr DeLuca, who received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in manufacturing management from GMI, was appointed vice president of Quality for GM Asia Pacific and GM Daewoo Auto & Technology in November 2007. Prior to leading GM Global Manufacturing, he had been vice president of Manufacturing for GMIO since 2013. Australian Manufacturing

ACCC takes legal action against Heinz over nutritional claims on food for toddlers The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched a legal action against H.J. Heinz Company Australia in relation to its Little Kids Shredz product range. Image credit: www.accc.gov.au The consumer watchdog is arguing that the food processing company made “false and misleading representation” and engaged in “conduct liable to mislead the public” in relation to the nature, characteristics and sustainability of these products, in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law. The Shredz products’ packaging features images of fresh fruit and vegetables and statements like “99% fruit and veg” and “Our range of snacks and meals encourages your toddler to independently discover the delicious taste of nutritious food”. The ACCC is alleging that these images and statements are misleading the public that these products are of equivalent nutritional value to fruit and vegetables and are a healthy and nutritious food for children aged one to three years, which is not the case. “The ACCC has brought these proceedings because it alleges that Heinz is marketing these products as healthy options for young children when they are not. These products contain over 60 per cent sugar, which is significantly higher than that of natural fruit and vegetables – for example, an apple contains approximately 10 per cent sugar,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said. “We also allege that rather than encouraging children to develop a taste for nutritious food, these Heinz Shredz products are likely to inhibit the development of a child’s taste for natural fruit and vegetables and encourage a child to become accustomed to, and develop a preference for, sweet tastes.” “The ACCC wants to make clear that major companies have an obligation under the Australian Consumer Law to ensure products’ health claims do not mislead the public. As part of the ACCC’s current focus on consumer protection issues arising from health claims by large businesses, we are particularly concerned about potentially misleading health claims for products being marketed for very young children.” ACCC’s legal against Heinz follow a complaint by the Obesity Policy Coalition about food products for toddlers that make fruit and vegetable claims but are predominantly made from fruit juice concentrate and pastes, which have a very high sugar content. The Shredz product range consists of three varieties including; “peach apple and veg”, “berries apple and veg”, and “strawberry & apple with chia seeds”. Australian Manufacturing

Daihatsu teams up with 3D printing giant Stratasys to offer car design customisation (VIDEO) Japanese carmaker Daihatsu Motor Co has partnered with Stratasys to introduce a range of 3D printed “Effect Skins” for Daihatsu Copen’s front and rear bumpers and fenders that customers will be able to tailor to their own specifications and preferences. Image credit: investors.stratasys.com These Effect Skins – which come in 10 different colours – were designed by industrial design company Znug Design, Inc. and 3D creator Sun Junjie, and 3D printed with Stratasys Fortus 3D printers. The skins will allow customers to adjust the parameters of the designs themselves, delivering on the 3D printing vision of mass customisation of end-use parts. Daihatsu General Manager Osamu Fujishita said the Effect Skins were 3D printed on Fortus® Production 3D Printers from Stratasys using ASA thermoplastic which is very durable, UV resistant and aesthetic. “What would have taken two to three months to develop can now be produced in two weeks,” Mr Fujishita said. “We believe on-demand production [with 3D printing] offers definite benefits to supply chain efficiencies. And it allows easy access for customers.” Mr Kota Nezu from Znug Design said the project demonstrated the superiority of 3D printing over traditional manufacturing methods when it comes to reducing costs, and especially when it comes to creating on-demand product parts with high customisability and rich design properties. “This project would not have been possible with traditional manufacturing or tooling methods,” Mr Nezu pointed out. According to Stratasys, the Effect Skin project is being tested in 2016 in select markets with plans for commercialisation in early 2017. Australian Manufacturing

Downer completes $7.5m Newport rail service delivery centre upgrade Downer EDI has completed the $7.5 million upgrade to its Newport rail service delivery, transforming the historic site into a leading services delivery centre for bogies, wheelsets and engine overhauls. Image credit: www.downergroup.com The upgrade saw Downer install a Portal Wheel Lathe which allows Newport to service train wheelsets for all three rail gauges used by Australian networks. Michael Miller, Chief Executive Officer Rail at Downer said the extensive two year upgrade significantly improved Victoria’s rail infrastructure capabilities and increased the potential for further employment opportunities at the site. “The new equipment and processes at Newport give Downer the ability to service any train running on Australian rail networks, significantly increasing the number of potential maintenance contracts available,” Mr Miller said. “Rail maintenance work has been carried out on this site for over 130 years and this $7.5 million investment into a critical piece of Victoria’s rail infrastructure increases availability, improves reliability and reduces costs for our customers in Victoria and across Australia.” Downer said it is planning to invest an additional $2.4 million in the Newport facility later this year to further increase the facility’s capacity and capability. The completion of the upgrade was marked with an event attended by the State Labor Member for Footscray, Marsha Thomson MP. Australian Manufacturing

Bega Cheese announces 2016/17 farm gate milk price Australian dairy company Bega Cheese has released its opening farm gate milk prices for the 2016/17 financial year. Image credit: Bega Cheese Facebook page The company has cut the farm gate milk price for the upcoming season from $5.60 to $5.00 per Kg of milk solids, which represents a cut of approximately 11%. Executive Chairman Barry Irvin said dairy prices have been impacted by Russian sanctions of dairy imports, a slowing demand in China and highly competitive markets across the world. “Farm gate milk prices are ultimately driven by returns we receive from markets both within Australia and globally. Many of the factors affecting these markets such as global supply, demand, currency relativities and competitor behaviour are beyond the control of individual companies,” Mr Irvin explained. “Bega Cheese’s long term strategy of building value added business platforms does assist in enhancing the base value of dairy products and therefore farm gate milk price but cannot insulate farm gate milk prices from the reality of the market. These are difficult times in terms of farm gate milk prices, we believe our opening 2016/17 prices appropriately reflect the market and are responsible.” According to Mr Irvin, analysts are not expecting an improvement in dairy community returns until at least the first half of calendar year 2017. Australian Manufacturing

Austal wins two new export orders Global defence prime contractor Austal has won two new contracts for three commercial passenger ferries with a combined value of approximately A$30 million. Image credit: www.austal.com The first contract award, valued at approximately A$15 million, is from or Seaspovill Co. Ltd for the construction of a 50 metre high speed passenger catamaran. Austal said it will construct the catamaran to an Incat Crowther design that has capacity to carry up to 450 passengers, at speeds of up to 40 knots. According to the company, the new 50 metre high speed catamaran will be constructed by Austal Philippines in Balamban, Cebu with delivery anticipated in June 2017. The second contract award, which includes includes the provision of spares and is valued at A$13 million, is from Supercat Fast Ferry Corporation (SFFC) of the Philippines, for two 30 metre passenger catamaran ferries. Austal said that the two catamarans will be able to transport about 300 passengers each at up to 25 knots, and will join SFFC’s popular “Supercat” fast ferry fleet operating between 10 ports throughout the Philippines Archipelago. The two Incat-Crowther designed vessels will also be constructed by Austal Philippines, with delivery scheduled for June 2017. Austal CEO David Singleton said the two contracts were significant in many ways, with the two SFFC vessels representing Austal Philippines’ first new build program for the Philippines domestic market and the Seaspovill contract Austal’s first new build for South Korea. “Once again Australian ship design and reputation for performance and quality wins out in the highly competitive international ship building market,” Mr Singleton added. “Austal has a world class reputation for high speed ferries and naval vessels which continues to be recognised and brings quality work to the business. We are seeing a resurgence in the passenger ferry market worldwide which Austal is well placed to win.” Australian Manufacturing

Toyota Australia posts $236m profit on the back of strong vehicle sales across all segments Toyota Australia has posted an after tax profit of $236 million for the financial year ended 31 March 2016, which represents a 22% increase compared to the previous financial year. Image credit: www.toyota.com Toyota said the result was underpinned by strong vehicle sales across all major segments, with 209,252 Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold locally and 64,605 vehicles exported during the 2015/16 financial year. “It has been extremely pleasing to see our employees continue their dedication and commitment to achieve our company goals. Their ongoing engagement has helped us to achieve these positive results,” Toyota Australia President Dave Buttner said. “Our manufacturing team members are working tirelessly to ensure that our last Camry will be our best one yet. The quality of these vehicles has been at an all-time high and this has assisted us in maintaining strong domestic and export sales for the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion. Last year we also revamped almost 70 per cent of our vehicle line-up, including the widely anticipated release of the all-new HiLux. The fact that our vehicle line-up continues to appeal strongly to Australian motorists is extremely satisfying.” The company also informed that it has incurred restructuring costs of $81 million in this financial year due to the 2014 announcements that it would stop manufacturing in Australia and consolidate its corporate operations by the end of next year. Australian Manufacturing

The largest workplace health and safety exhibition in the region to be held in Sydney Safety in Action, the largest workplace health and safety event in Australia will be held at the Sydney Showground Olympic Park from 6 – 8 September 2016. Image provided The event is expected to gather more than 5,000 decision makers in Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) across manufacturing, government, construction, healthcare, transport, distribution, cleaning and engineering and will feature over 20 free seminars on insights and priorities for employee safety. “It’s estimated that over 2,000 workers die from a work-related illness each year, highlighting the urgent need for national improvements to prevent and reduce the number and severity of injuries and illnesses in the future,” said Keith Barks, General Manager at Informa Australia, who are jointly presenting the event with the Safety Institute of Australia (SIA). The event will run parallel with the SIA’s National Convention, a 2 day conference featuring global and Australian safety leaders who will address the theme of “Disruptive Safety”. The convention program will include the SIA Annual General Meeting, OHS education awards, OHS leaders and CEO’s breakfast, and a women in leadership forum. The free Safety in Action seminar series will be focusing on mental health and physical wellbeing and will hear from leading industry professionals discussing this year’s theme “Keep your workplace safe”. Presentations include Beyondblue, SafeWork NSW, Myosh, Mayo Hardware, Aframes Safety, with full details to be released shortly. “There will also be a broad range of exhibitors showcasing the latest safety developments, and these include: major sponsor Myosh, show bag sponsor ATOM, Mix Telematics, Chemical Safety International, Royal Life Saving, Safety Institute of Australia, and SAI Global. A full list of exhibitors can be found here,” read the press release to Australian Manufacturing. “Exclusive to Safety in Action Sydney will be Australia’s largest cleaning and hygiene show CleanScene. Presented by the National Cleaning Suppliers Association (NCSA), the co-located event will feature a number of exhibitors catering for cleaners, commercial, industrial and facility managers, government agencies and purchasing officers.” Attendance at Safety in Action Sydney and CleanScene is free and those interested in attending the events can register their interest online here: Safety in Action and CleanScene. Australian Manufacturing

AAMC asks parties to state their policies on important industry issues The Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council (AAMC) has called on all parties to state their policies on driving success in Australian advanced manufacturing and to respond to where they stand on a range of important industry issues highlighted by the Council. Image credit: aamc.org.au The Council has also offered its own views and positions on these issues that are currently impacting advanced manufacturing in the country. “It is important that we understand where all the major parties stand on these issues – all of which will impact the success or otherwise of advanced manufacturing in Australia,” he said. “Australia’s economic future depends on stability, clarity and responsible stewardship of our high value industries and the creation of meaningful employment for the future. Our advanced manufacturers are among leaders in the world in their fields. Our policymakers must understand the imperatives of global business in order to maintain and grow these businesses here for future generations of Australians.” The AAMC asks all parties where they stand on the following issues: Where do you stand on continued support for the Industry Growth Centres? “We believe bipartisan commitment to core early stage innovation programs is fundamental to the success of advanced manufacturing in Australia. Continuity must be maintained for the Growth Centres to be successful. Industry must have a degree of certainty in order to collaborate for future growth,” the Council said in a media statement. Where do you stand on concentrating effort behind the competitiveness agenda outlined through the growth centres? “Australian Governments have attempted in recent years to invest in the development of programs to bridge the so-called “Valley of Death” between research and commercialisation, and to increase the global competitiveness of our industries,” reads the statement. “We believe the competitiveness agenda is important. The structure is established. In other words, we have invested in the “machines” for growth; we just need to give them petrol. A possible review and evaluation of direction may be required to ensure the program is on the right track and to ensure it will deliver real outcomes for industry. But we cannot keep ripping up the plants to see if they are growing.” Where do you stand on the incentives around Intellectual Property (IP) development for manufacturing in Australia? AAMC said it is on the opinion that Australia must introduce an advanced manufacturing innovation incentive scheme to attract and maintain high value manufacturing in Australia. “Applicants would be required to submit plans for substantive commitments in manufacturing or for expanding knowledge-rich activities or capabilities in Australia,” reads the statement. “At the same time, Australia’s Research and Development (R & D) tax incentive must be maintained at current levels and protected against further cuts.” Where do you stand on follow through on defence contracts to ensure access for Australian industry to major global supply chains? “The Australian defence industry is world class and globally competitive, and must gain full access to major global value chains,” the Council stated. “The recent First Principles Review process has set a new direction for Defence, while the Defence Industry Policy Statement has laid the foundation for a renewed defence-industry relationship, and real outcomes for Australian industry growth. These major reforms must be fully realised.” Where do you stand on building small and medium sized enterprises so they are competing on equal terms with their counterparts in competitor nations? “The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) definition of small business is: an individual, partnership, trust or company with aggregated turnover less than $2 million. The Council has called for the threshold to be increased to $20 million to support scale and allow companies to operate on a more level playing field with their overseas competitors,” the AAMC said. “Revising the definition to better reflect the reality of viability for a small business will help promote a stronger economy. It will ensure these entities gain full and reasonable benefit from ATO allowances for small business, and support their growth and continued viability into the future.” Australian Manufacturing

Local Motors unveils “Olli”, the world’s the first self-driving vehicle with cognitive computing capabilities Local Motors, the creator of the world’s first 3D-printed car, has introduced the first self-driving vehicle to integrate the advanced cognitive computing capabilities of IBM. Image credit: cocreate.localmotors.com The electric vehicle, dubbed “Olli”, is equipped with some of the world’s most advanced vehicle technology, including IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) for Automotive, to improve the passenger experience and allow natural interaction with the vehicle. Local Motors CEO and co-founder John B. Rogers said Olli will first be used on public roads locally in DC, and late in 2016 in Miami-Dade County and Las Vegas. “Olli offers a smart, safe and sustainable transportation solution that is long overdue. Olli with Watson acts as our entry into the world of self-driving vehicles, something we’ve been quietly working on with our co-creative community for the past year,” Mr Rogers said. “We are now ready to accelerate the adoption of this technology and apply it to nearly every vehicle in our current portfolio and those in the very near future. I’m thrilled to see what our open community will do with the latest in advanced vehicle technology.” IBM’s Watson technology empowers Olli to understand and respond to passengers’ questions as they enter the vehicle. According to the company’s blog post, passengers will be able to interact conversationally with Olli while travelling from point A to point by asking questions about destinations, specific vehicle functions, or even recommendations on local destinations such as popular restaurants or historical sites based on analysis of personal preferences. “Cognitive computing provides incredible opportunities to create unparalleled, customized experiences for customers, taking advantage of the massive amounts of streaming data from all devices connected to the Internet of Things, including an automobile’s myriad sensors and systems,” said Harriet Green, General Manager, IBM Watson Internet of Things, Commerce & Education. “IBM is excited to work with Local Motors to infuse IBM Watson IoT cognitive computing capabilities into Olli, exploring the art of what’s possible in a world of self-driving vehicles and providing a unique, personalised experience for every passenger while helping to revolutionise the future of transportation for years to come.” The vehicle was unveiled last week during the Grand Opening of a new Local Motors facility in National Harbor, Maryland, which will serve as a public place where visitors can watch the printing happen in real time. “National Harbor has a history of attracting unique and experiential shopping, dining and entertainment destinations, so we are an ideal launch pad for Local Motors,” said Jon Peterson, Principal of Peterson Companies, the developer of National Harbor. “We are excited to welcome Local Motors and play a part in the revolution of the transportation industry.” Australian Manufacturing

CSIRO unveils solar-powered air-condition for commercial buildings CSIRO has developed an innovative solar-powered air-conditioning system that addresses the high energy consumption of large commercial spaces such as shopping centres and hotels. Image credit: www.csiro.au The new system, which operates at Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre in Ballarat, Victoria, uses concentrating solar thermal technology to produce heat energy that is then used to power the air conditioning system of the shopping centre. Jointly managed by CSIRO with Stockland Group and NEP Solar, the $1.2 million, three-year pilot project is also supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) with $520,000 in funding. CSIRO Energy Director Peter Mayfield said the technology showed promising early results. “CSIRO’s energy research is driving down costs of renewable technologies, accelerating the transition to a lower-emissions future,” Dr Mayfield said. “We are pioneering new technologies and this project is a world-first demonstration of a desiccant air-conditioning system using roof mounted concentrating solar thermal collectors.” ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said ARENA was very pleased to have partnered with CSIRO on this technology. “It has the potential to further improve the efficiency of solar thermal energy systems and storage to provide clean and reliable heating and cooling in commercial buildings,” Mr Frischknecht said. “ARENA is committed to supporting innovative projects like this and helping to share lessons learned amongst the wider RD&D sector, powering Australian renewable energy innovation well into the future.” CSIRO said that the air conditioning system is powered by NEP Solar’s trough collectors with heat stored in a thermal oil tank. “The roof space required for the solar air-conditioning technology can be 40 per cent less than a traditional single-stage desiccant system,” it said in a press release. “Solar heat-driven desiccant air conditioning systems can provide humidity controlled fresh air into the buildings and is expected to significantly reduce HVAC electricity usage for commercial buildings.” CSIRO said it will continue to monitor the operation pilot system over the next 12 months to establish the long-term commercial viability of the design. Australian Manufacturing

Ararat Wind Farm receives its first blade delivery Victoria’s Ararat Wind Farm has received its first shipment of GE turbine blades which will see Australia’s third largest wind farm switch to its full employment capacity of 165 workers over the two-year development period. Image credit: GE Newsroom The Ararat Wind farm, which is powered by RES, Downer and GE, will be located on rural land located approximately 180km northwest of Melbourne and between 9km – 17km northeast of Ararat in Victoria. Matt Rebbeck, COO of RES Australia, said the delivery marks an important milestone in the development of the project which will inject almost $8 million into the local economy. “Today is a proud moment for RES Australia and the Ararat community and shows the result of our deep involvement and long term engagement over the last ten years,” Mr Rebbeck said. “We are particularly pleased to have The Victorian Premier, the Hon. Daniel Andrews officiate today’s events demonstrating ongoing support for the Ararat Wind Farm project and renewable energy developments in the state of Victoria.” Geoff Culbert, CEO of GE Australia, New Zealand & PNG said the project has hit the half-way milestone in construction. “The Ararat Wind Farm is proof that Australia’s renewables industry creates investment and jobs, and drives economic benefit for local communities,” Mr Culbert added. “We’re excited to also welcome the 165 workers from the local community who are so integral to the project’s success.” Trevor Cohen, Executive Director, Downer Utilities, said that once complete, the Ararat Wind Farm will be a world class project that plays a key part in Australia’s renewable energy future. “The arrival of the blades marks the next phase of construction that will see work start on the installation of 75 wind turbines that will generate electricity to power around 120,000 homes per annum, or about six percent of Victorian households,” Mr Cohen said. “This is a great opportunity to continue our community engagement activities and provide an occasion that enables members of the public to observe first hand, the size and scale of equipment being installed at the wind farm.” Mr Stuart Liddell, Ararat Wind Farm’s General Manager, said the integration with local community has been key to their success to date. “This is a great opportunity to continue our community engagement activities and provide an occasion that enables members of the public to observe first hand, the size and scale of equipment being installed at the wind farm.” Australian Manufacturing

AMWU endorses Labor’s national rail plan AMWU members have backed Labor’s national rail initiative that will coordinate train purchases between the states to boost Australian manufacturing. Image credit: www.amwu.org.au The National Passenger Rail Procurement initiative, which a Shorten Labor Government would start implementing the plan in its first year in office, aims to end the fragmented “boom and bust” cycle of each state purchasing its own rolling stock – often from overseas – while ignoring the national picture. Speaking at the launch of the initiative last week, Labor’s Industry spokesman Senator Kim Carr told AMWU members that the Federal Government should take leading role in encouraging the states to purchase passenger and freight rolling stock from local firms, using Australian-made parts and steel. “I’m very confident we can secure the support of the states,” the Minister said, adding that Labor will also examine the need for a national federal-state transport authority to help co-ordinate local procurement on $46 billion of rail infrastructure already announced. The launch was attended by 20 AMWU members from SSR, plus delegates from Alstom and UGL in Ballarat and Downer from Newport (Melbourne). Darren Thompson, our AMWU delegate at SSR, said the shop had proven its potential by designing and building two new locos in the past few years. “Local content has to be the way to go if we’re to grow more jobs,” he said. “The Andrews Government has kicked it off here in Victoria, but the Federal Government could lead and provide this across the country.” SSR co-owner Vin Nally said the sector requires serious Government investment to be able to compete with foreign companies. “We’ve proven we can build a world-class lco here, build it cheaper than importing it from the US. We have the skills in Australia, we need governments to invest,” he said. AMWU Assistant National Secretary Glenn Thompson urged the Coalition to match the policy as local procurement should be bi-partisan. “The existing inefficiency of having state and territory governments independently ordering and building trains is costing Australian jobs,” he said. “Labor’s plan to harmonise the procurement of public transport rolling stock is an excellent example of how to innovate and assist industry to grow the number of jobs in the sector.” Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra to double lactose recovery from waste stream with $8m upgrade Fonterra will spend 8$ million on a technology upgrade that will double the amount of lactose recovered at its Edgecumbe plant in the Bay of Plenty, NZ. Image credit: www.fonterra.com The dairy giant said the upgrade will allow it to capture lactose that was previously unable to be extracted from the site’s waste stream by creatively applying existing filtration technology. Fonterra Director New Zealand Manufacturing, Mark Leslie said the upgrade will reduce the company’s reliance on imported lactose from overseas suppliers and will play a vital role in the Co-operative’s ability to provide high quality milk powder to the world. “Lactose is used mainly in standardising milk powder, and the additional volumes of lactose we’re now able to capture will be essential in supplying the new dryer opening soon in Lichfield – one of our most strategically important builds,” Mr Leslie said. “We are continually looking for ways to get the most out of our milk and this is another good example. We have found a creative way to use existing technology that will bring great results, save us cash and deliver real value for our farmers.” According to him, the upgrade will not only generate savings for the Co-operative, but it will also reduce the site’s environmental footprint by removing even more solids from the waste water. “Important to Fonterra is our commitment to creating a more sustainable dairy industry. As with any project we undertake, reducing our emissions and our environmental impacts is one of the first considerations,” Mr Leslie said. “This project, and several others planned for the Edgecumbe site in the coming months demonstrate that ongoing commitment.” Australian Manufacturing

Join the contest and win Adidas Parley for the Oceans 3D printed snickers Last year, nongovernmental organisation Parley for the Oceans has teamed up with German sportswear giant Adidas to 3D print the world’s first sneaker made out of ocean waste. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1YsbHht The pair showcased their concept shoe – which consists of an upper made with ocean plastic content, and a midsole which is 3D printed using recycled polyester and gill net content – at the “Parley Talks” at COP21 in Paris, demonstrating how the industry can re-think design and contribute to stop ocean plastic pollution. Now, as part of its A.I.R (Avoid. Intercept. Redesign) strategy, the organisation is calling on all who share their values and mission to protect the oceans and end ocean plastic pollution to support the Ocean Plastic Program by creating a video that calls to action. The creators of the 50 most inspiring videos will be named Parley Ambassadors and will also earn a pair of these limited edition shoes that cannot be bought on the market. “Creators of the most inspiring 50 videos will earn a pair of shoes. More important, they become core members of the Parley movement,” it says on the Parley for the Ocean website. Contenders will be required to upload their video to Instagram, and tag Adidas and Parley in the caption with #ParleyAIR.The contest ends on 31 June 2016. For detailed information, please go to: http://ift.tt/1YsbHht. Australian Manufacturing

Woodside injects $10M into Monash innovation centre Australian oil and gas company Woodside and Monash University have announced the launch of a new Innovation Centre that incorporates cutting-edge technology with exceptional expertise in both engineering research and design, and IT. Image credit: Woodside Facebook page Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Innovation Centre, Minster for resources Energy and Northern Australia, Mr Josh Frydenberg said the Centre will drive significant advances in the energy sector, bringing positive economic benefits to Australia. Woodside will contribute AUD $10 million over five years toward the Centre, which will establish a globally connected innovation hub that rapidly accelerates advances in materials engineering, additive manufacturing and data science. The Centre will be equipped with a selective laser melting (SLM) 3D printer – the most precise and dimensionally correct 3D printer available – capable of manufacturing components used in oil and gas plants. Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO thanked Woodside for the $10 million contribution, which represents the largest corporate philanthropic gift in the University’s history. “This partnership will build on the University’s record of innovation in engineering and IT to provide practical solutions for Australian industry,” Professor Gardner said. “The Woodside Innovation Centre demonstrates Monash University’s commitment to connecting our world-leading research with industry. We are grateful to Woodside for such a generous contribution to establish the Centre that will have a national and global impact,” Mr Shaun Gregory, Woodside’s Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer said Woodside engineers and Monash researchers will jointly develop and test prototypes in the laboratory, aiming to lead to new applications for the energy and other industries. “Launching an innovation centre at Monash adds to our existing network of FutureLabs at Curtin University and the University of Western Australia in Perth. Launched last year, our FutureLabs are building an ecosystem of scientific and technological innovation through collaborations with research institutions, start-ups, entrepreneurs and adjacent leading industries,” Mr Gregory said. “Our vision for our Monash centre is for us to rapidly advance commercial opportunities through materials engineering, additive manufacturing and data science. We are really excited about collaborating with researchers and experts from Monash to identify opportunities to solve real-life challenges we face at Woodside.” Professor Frieder Seible, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Enterprise) and Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Information Technology said the Innovation Centre highlighted the capability of Monash researchers to collaborate with industry specialists like Woodside. “Today’s important innovation drivers are New Materials, New Manufacturing Methods, and Data Analytics, exactly the three pillars of the Woodside Innovation Centre. Monash engineering and information technology research and expertise is leading in all three areas, in particular in the additive manufacturing of duplex and super duplex stainless steels. With 3D printed components rapidly coming online, Monash is at the forefront of the next generation of manufacturing capability in Australia,” Professor Seible said. “In addition, Monash has Australia’s most advanced 3-D visualisation environment for fully immersive analytics of big data sets. Through this partnership, we will train the next generation of exceptional engineers and IT professionals to deal with tomorrow’s challenges and advances.” Australian Manufacturing

Former ASC Executive appointed Chair of SA’s Automotive Transformation Taskforce Mr Steve Ludlam, the former Chief Executive of naval shipbuilder ASC and a current member of the Defence SA Advisory Board, has been appointed as the new Chair of SA’s Automotive Transformation Taskforce. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1UytphY He has also been appointed as the Chair of the Northern Economic and Social Implementation Board, a key advisory body under the Northern Economic Plan. Commenting on the appointment, Automotive Transformation Minister Kyam Maher said the Taskforce will continue to play a critical role in assisting automotive and component manufacturers to diversify into new industries and markets, and to take advantage of the opportunities presented by SA’s continuous build of naval ships. “Steve Ludlam is a global submarine expert who was Chief Executive of naval shipbuilding company ASC Pty Ltd from 2010 to 2014. Before moving to Adelaide, Mr Ludlam was President of Submarines at Rolls-Royce in the United Kingdom, where he led the successful modernisation of the country’s submarine program,” the Minister said. “During his time at ASC he restructured the company’s operations, and is widely credited for restoring efficiencies in the Collins-class submarine maintenance program. Mr Ludlam is the ideal person to lead the Automotive Transformation Taskforce as the Holden closure draws nearer, and to help supply chain companies to diversify and take advantage of the huge opportunities set to be delivered by Adelaide’s naval shipbuilding future.” The Automotive Transformation Taskforce was established 2014 in response to the Holden closure. It has established critical support initiatives – such as the Automotive Workers in Transition Program and the Automotive Supplier Diversification Program – to help supply chain companies and workers to retrain and diversify. The Northern Economic Plan – which focuses on driving economic and social transformation in northern Adelaide – was developed by the State Government in partnership with the Playford, Salisbury, and Port Adelaide Enfield councils, industries, businesses, and the community. Australian Manufacturing

BFC wins $2.5m grant to expand its range of high end cheeses The South Australian Government has awarded Beston Global Food Company (BFC) a $2.5 million regional development grant to develop a new cutting-edge cheese processing facility as part of the Beston Pure Foods operations at Murray Bridge, SA. Image credit: http://ift.tt/25HcWNc The planned expansion, which will cost a total of $25 million, will increase the company’s cheddar making capacity and expand the range of cheeses to include Mozzarella, Gruyere and Parmesan, as well as a range of soft cream and white mould cheeses. BFC Chairman Roger Sexton said the expansion was part of the company’s strategy to become a producer of a diverse range of high end, premium dairy products for both local and export markets and to boost the dairy industry in SA. “The objective of the new facility is to produce cheeses which are import replacing, thereby creating a demand for additional milk from dairy farmers in South Australia,” Dr Sexton said. “Working in conjunction with well-established local and national cheese distributors we also intend to build an incubation centre as part of the project whereby newly qualified cheesemakers can experiment with new cheese varieties in a way that meets both our own production requirements as well as the commercial requirements of distributors.” BFC CEO Sean Ebert said the SA grant award “recognised the important role” which the company was playing to boost high value food production. “The project to expand production of Beston Pure Foods at Murray Bridge has been developed in response to customer demand and, importantly, satisfies all of our company’s financial benchmarks and investment criteria.” The government grant is conditional on BFC obtaining local council and other regulatory approvals for the development. Australian Manufacturing

Imagine IM opens Australia’s first commercial graphene plant Imagine Intelligent Materials (Imagine IM) yesterday officially opened Australia’s first commercial graphene plant in Geelong. Image credit: Imagine.com Built by Geelong-based engineering company Australian Engineering Solutions (Austeng), the plant will have the capacity to produce approximately 10 tonnes of graphene per year. “Graphene is a material that is critical to the future of advanced manufacturing globally. Imagine IM’s focus is on developing applications that utilise the amazing properties of graphene to enable the manufacture of transformative smart textiles, fibres and membranes,” said Chris Gilbey, CEO of Imagine IM, in a press release on the PR Newswire. “The challenge is to enable integration into manufacturing and to deliver product at scale. Our initial pilot plant will serve the needs of Geofabrics over the next two years and will provide sufficient graphene for other products that are currently in R&D. The commissioning of this plant positions Imagine IM as one of the few graphene companies anywhere in the world with a path to market. Geelong can now consider itself the Graphene capital of Australia.” Graphene – whose discoverers won the Nobel Prize for physics in 2010 – is a one atom thick layer of carbon extracted from graphite. It is 100 times stronger than steel, is impervious to water and gases, can stretch like rubber and has extremely high electrical and thermal conductivity. This “super material” is widely seen as a new platform material for advanced manufacturing, with applications including; electronics, fashion and sports wearable technology, mining, water conservation and purification, automotive structures and energy storage. Imagine has developed a graphene coating technology that enables the production of a unique conductive geotextile that will be manufactured and launched by Geofabrics Australasia later this year. Geofabrics will use the technology to offer Australian civil engineering companies significantly improved capacity to locate and remedy leaks with applications in landfill and mining construction. “This project has involved all roads leading to Geelong. Austeng came highly recommended as tech enablers and unrelatedly, we have undertaken R&D work at both CSIRO in Geelong and Deakin University. Geelong is one of the most innovative Australian cities in which to work,” said Phil Aitchison, COO and Head of R&D at Imagine IM. Australian Manufacturing

Victorian industrial textile fabricator wins grant to expand manufacturing capacity Victorian industrial textile manufacturer C.E. Bartlett has been awarded an $80,000 grant to purchase and install a new state-of-the-art FIAB High Frequency Welder. Image credit: bartlett.net.au The funding, which is part of the Labor Government’s Future Industries Manufacturing Program, will further automate the company’s manufacturing process, allowing it to increase production capacity and improve its product range. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan, who announced the grant while touring C.E. Bartlett’s facilities on Wednesday, said the funding boost will make the company more competitive locally and abroad. “The Andrews Labor Government is helping manufacturers invest in new technologies and processes that will transition Victoria towards an advanced manufacturing economy,” the Minister said. “Our Future Industries Manufacturing Program is giving local businesses the support they need to create new jobs and grow the economy.” The Labor Government’s Future Industries Manufacturing Program is one of three industry programs under the Future Industries Fund designed tp support high growth industries and create jobs. Companies can apply for grants of up to $500,000 under the Manufacturing Program to invest in new manufacturing technologies and processes that will create jobs and increase productivity. C.E. Bartlett Pty Ltd is a family owned and operated Industrial Textile Fabricator which was established in 1956. The company specialises in the manufacture of a wide range of products using canvas, PVC and other synthetic fabrics. Australian Manufacturing

Victoria sets ambitious renewable energy targets to create thousands of jobs Victoria is aiming to generate 25% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2020, and up to 40% by 2025, in an effort to create new jobs and reduce its carbon footprint. Image credit: arena.gov.au Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced the targets while attending a community event to mark the arrival of the first turbine blades at the Ararat Wind Farm on Wednesday. “Growing renewable energy means growing jobs, and we want a big boost to both right here in Victoria,” the Premier said. “The world is shifting to renewable energy – it creates jobs, drives growth, and protects our environment – and Victorians want to be at the forefront of that.” Mr Andrews also announced an auctions scheme – running a series of technology-neutral auctions, as well as solar auctions – which will see project developers compete to be the lowest cost provider. He said successful bids will be handed long-term contracts to support their projects, providing certainty for investors. “The targets and auction scheme form a key part of Victoria’s Renewable Energy Action Plan to be released later this year – reviving a sector which has stalled since the Federal Government cut the national Renewable Energy Target in 2015,” the Premier explained. Ms D’Ambrosio said the State government will work with the renewable energy industry, electricity networks and retailers, and consumer groups to refine the details of the scheme. According to her, the first auction of contracts will begin next year, with separate auctions to be held for large scale solar projects. “We’ve developed Victorian renewable energy targets that generate thousands of new jobs, particularly in regional Victoria, while also cutting Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions,” the Minister added. “By making our scheme complementary to the Commonwealth’s Renewable Energy Target we are saving the RET. Investors have lost faith in the national target, but we are restoring the confidence needed to invest.” Australian Manufacturing

Simple “salt bath” method to accelerate development of next-gen batteries for electric cars A team of scientists from CSIRO, RMIT University and QUT has recently demonstrated that a simple salt bath could pave the way for the next generation of rechargeable lithium batteries that will disrupt the electric vehicle industry. Scientist(s) working at a fume cupboardImage credit: www.csiro.au The research, which was published yesterday in Nature Communications, found that pre-treating a battery’s lithium metal electrodes with an electrolyte salt solution extends the battery life and increases performance and safety. CSIRO battery researcher Dr Adam Best said the simple method will fast-track the development of next-gen energy storage solutions and overcome the issue of “battery range anxiety” that is currently a barrier in the electric car industry. According to him, the technology has the potential to improve electric vehicle drive range and battery charge to such extent that electric vehicles will soon be “competitive with traditional petrol vehicles” “Our research has shown by pre-treating lithium metal electrodes, we can create batteries with charge efficiency that greatly exceeds standard lithium batteries,” Dr Best said. According to Dr Best, the pre-treatment process involves the immersion of lithium metal electrodes in an electrolyte bath containing a mixture of ionic liquids and lithium salts, prior to a battery being assembled. “Ionic liquids or room temperature molten salts, are a unique class of material that are clear, colourless, odourless solutions and are non-flammable,” Mr Best explained. “When used in batteries these materials can prevent the risk of fire and explosion, a known rechargeable battery issue.” He said the salt bath pre-treatment adds a protective film onto the surface of the electrode that helps stabilise the battery when in operation. “The pre-treatment reduces the breakdown of electrolytes during operation, which is what determines the battery’s increased performance and lifetime,” Dr Best said, adding that batteries that have undergone the process can also spend up to one year on the shelf without loss of performance. QUT researcher Associate Professor Anthony O’Mullane said the method can be easily adopted by manufacturers. “The pre-treatment process is readily transferrable to existing manufacturing processes,” Mr O’Mullane said. According to the CSIRO, the research team, which is currently developing batteries based on this technology, is looking for partners to help bring these materials and devices to market. Australian Manufacturing

New Small Business Office to deliver Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy The Palaszczuk Government will establish an Office of Small Business to deliver its Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy that was announced in the state budget on Tuesday. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj By fantasista Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch said the office will deliver the $27 million initiative in the sector over three years, helping small businesses to create jobs, drive business growth and innovation and build digital capacity. “The Office of Small Business will develop and deliver programs to foster our future entrepreneurs especially women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by expanding the Queensland Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow program,” Ms Enoch said. “It will put in place actions to advocate for small business at State and Federal Government discussions, bringing us in line with other states.” The Minister also announced the creation of a new Small Business Knowledge Hub to research key issues impacting Queensland small business and draw on this to inform and influence policy decision making across Queensland Government. “The Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy will be our plan to make Queensland the place for small business to start, grow and employ. It will do this by leveraging the Advance Queensland agenda to create jobs, drive productivity and harness innovation” the Minister added. “It will also provide targeted support for small business to get a better start including $10,000 digital capacity grants; $5,000 grants through the Queensland Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow Program. These initiatives will help small business increase their digital capabilities; ensure a more coordinated approach to service delivery across the government; strengthen support for regional small business; and provide a stronger advocacy voice for small business.” Ms Enoch underlined that the Strategy had a strong regional focus with initiatives that will build better partnerships with government and regional stakeholders. “Small businesses are in every community and are the backbone of our regions. In Queensland, 97 per cent of all businesses are small and they employ almost half of the state’s private sector workforce,” Minister Enoch said. “The Strategy gives us a plan that will enable Queensland Government to work effectively with small business to help them make their ideas a reality, to grow their businesses and employ.” The Strategy also provides funding for the 2017 Queensland Small Business Week and supports the continuation of the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council and Red Tape Reduction Advisory Council that provide direct input to government on issues facing small business. Australian Manufacturing

Austal pledges to continue innovation development and investment in WA Austal Limited has attended the first forum hosted by the Government of Western Australia’s new Innovation Minister, Mr Bill Marmion, in preparation for the upcoming State’s first Innovation Summit, which will be held in Perth on 28 July 2016. Image credit: Austal Austal Vice President of Strategy and Commercial Development Andrew Malcolm, who attended the forum, said the company is looking forward to playing a proactive, leadership role in the Innovation Summit to help drive innovation development and investment in Western Australia. “Austal’s successes, both here in Australia and overseas, are underpinned by our continued focus on innovation in vessel design, construction and support,” Mr Malcolm said. “We believe the current opportunities for Austal and the broader WA defence industry in the delivery of the Commonwealth’s continuous naval shipbuilding program – including new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Royal Australian Navy – will lead to collaboration and even greater innovation by WA companies across the supply chain.” Austal’s Western Australia-based team of naval architects, designers and production engineers have been involved in the design and construction of some of the world’s most innovative commercial and defence vessels, including the 127 metre Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and 103 metre Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) for the United States Navy, and the locally built 58 metre Cape Class Patrol Boat for the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy. Australian Manufacturing

Montague introduces new folding bike for city dwellers US-based Montague Bikes, the world’s leading maker of full-size folding bikes, has launched a new multi-purpose commuter bike designed to deliver a comfortable riding experience and compact size for city living. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1gKgF4C Equipped with a 21-speed Shimano drivetrain and trigger shifters, the new foldable Urban brand features full-size wheels and wide, 35mm tires that can handle both pavement and light trails. When folded, the bike compacts to just 36 inches wide, 28 inches high and 12 inches deep, which, coupled with its ultra light weight (29 lbs), makes for a bike can be taken on public transit and fit easily under most desks. As all Montague bikes, the Urban includes the patented DirectConnect™ folding system that provides increased frame stiffness and can be folded and unfolded in less than 20 seconds. Ryan Walas, Director of Marketing for Montague Bikes, said the bike is also equipped with Montague’s patented Eurobike award winning RackStand which serves as a standard cargo rack and mud guard when the bike is in use, converts into a kickstand when parked, and allows the bike to stand upright when folded. “A bicycle is increasingly the most efficient and enjoyable way to get around the city, and the Urban makes cycling easier and more accessible than ever before.” Mr Walas said. “This bike is a true urban assault vehicle that is tough enough for the city streets and can fold in seconds for the car trunk, train, or closet. It delivers a rich riding experience with the added security of being able to store inside when not in use.” The Urban, which retails for $749.95, is part of Montague’s 11 all-new bike models for 2016 that feature the same folding frame design. The 2016 line-up includes six road and five mountain bikes ranging in price from $639.95 to $2,449.00. Australian Manufacturing

WA Government to co-fund Australian Mines’ upcoming drill program at Dixon Australian Mines Limited announced that the WA Government has agreed to co-fund a proposed diamond core drilling program at its emerging Dixon prospect which is located approximately 50km of Northern Star’s Plutonic Gold Mine. Image credit: Australian Mines’ ASX release Australian Mines said that the funding, awarded under the Government’s competitive Exploration Incentive Scheme, covers 50% of the direct drilling costs associated with the proposed 1,200 metre diamond drill program at Dixon. According to the company, the location of the proposed diamond holes is based on the recently undertaken detailed geological and geophysical modelling, with the final design of the drill program to be influenced by the company’s reverse circulation (RC) drilling program, which was completed earlier this week. Managing Director Benjamin Bell said that the company had already sent samples from this recent RC drilling to the lab, with initial assay results expected within the next two weeks. “We are very pleased that the State Government has agreed to support our exploration program at Dixon through directly injecting funds into our next phase of drilling,” Mr Bell said. Australian Manufacturing

ABB connects 648 MW solar project to India’s national grid Swiss automation giant ABB has commissioned five substations to link a 648-megawatt (MW) solar project at Kamuthi in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu to the national transmission grid. Image credit: www.abb.com The solar photovoltaic project, which was awarded by independent power producer (IPP) Adani Group in 2015, consists of five plants in a single location and is the largest of its kind in the world. According to ABB, 360 MW from the solar project is currently grid-connected and at full capacity it will account for nearly 10% of India’s solar power, which amounts to approximately seven gigawatts (GW). Claudio Facchin, President of ABB’s Power Grids division, said the project will not only diversify India’s energy mix to meet growing demand, but will also help the country achieve its target of 100 GW of solar power by 2022. “We are proud to support the country’s clean energy vision and push for solar power which demonstrates its commitment to sustainable growth,” Mr Facchin said. “This project exemplifies our end-to-end power and automation system integration capabilities and reinforces our commitment to the renewable energy sector, a key component of ABB’s Next Level strategy.” ABB’s involvement in the project, which was completed on schedule, included the design, supply, installation and commissioning related to the solar plant electrification and automation systems. Australian Manufacturing

MG appoints interim Chief Financial Officer Murray Goulburn (MG) has announced the appointment of Alan Tilley to the position of interim Chief Financial Officer, effective Tuesday, 14 June 2016. Image credit: www.mgc.com.au Mr Tilley, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, comes to MG from NRMA Motoring and Services Group where he served as the Group Chief Financial Officer for almost 8 years. During his time with NRMA, Mr Tilley was responsible for the group’s financial management business performance and ICT. Prior to his tenure with NRMA, he worked in top 20 ASX listed and professional service environments in Australia and Europe including finance roles at Brambles, Transfield and PwC. Mr Tilley is also a qualified Chartered Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Australian Manufacturing

Boeing awards $200m in space contracts to six small businesses A number of small companies specialising in engineering, information technology, software development and mission assurance support have received a total of $200 million in contracts from Boeing to work on the International Space Station (ISS). Image credit: Boeing website Boeing, which is NASA’s prime contractor for the ISS, said the contracts were awarded under the Boeing Engineering and Technical Support Service program. The world’s largest aerospace company said that contract recipients include S&K Global Solutions, LLC; Barrios Technology, Ltd; ALATEC, Inc; Summit Technologies & Solutions, Inc; RVMTI JV, LLC; and All Points Logistics, LLC. “Supplier partners are critical to our growth and success,” said Mark Mulqueen, Boeing ISS program manager. “It’s important to Boeing and our NASA customer that we commit significant resources to growing our small business network through targeted outreach, mentoring programs and regular collaboration.” During the first half of the 2016 fiscal year, Boeing Space Exploration programs – which include the ISS, Commercial Crew and Space Launch System – purchased approximately $754 million in products and services from a network of 690 suppliers. According to the company, these purchases included contracts worth approximately $211 million awarded to small and diverse businesses. Australian Manufacturing

Navistar to manufacture GM’s Cutaway G Van Navistar, the leading manufacturer of commercial trucks, buses, defence vehicles and diesel engines, has reached an agreement with General Motors (GM) to manufacture the cutaway model of GM’s G Van at its Springfield, Ohio plant. Image credit: GM Facebook page Navistar said the multi-year manufacturing contract, which commences in early 2017, will generate at least 300 jobs and recommission its second line at the plant. “We’re very pleased to partner with GM on this important manufacturing opportunity,” said Persio Lisboa, president, Navistar operations. “Our Springfield plant is an important part of our manufacturing footprint, and we’ve been preparing it for a higher volume concentration of light- and medium-duty products as part of our manufacturing strategy. This is an important step towards our goal to drive automotive quality into the commercial vehicle industry.” GM manufactures cutaway vans for commercial customers. The company’s Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans are upfitted into utility or service vehicles, ambulance or rescue vehicles, shuttle buses or school buses. “This partnership will provide our Wentzville, Mo., assembly plant more flexibility to keep up with continued demand for mid-size trucks and full size vans,” said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations Vice President. Navistar, which primarily manufactures its DuraStar® and WorkStar® models at the Springfield plant, last year signed a separate long-term agreement with GM to develop and assemble a medium-duty, conventional cab Class 4/5 commercial vehicle starting in 2018. According to the company, the future products will be “jointly developed” using Navistar’s expertise in rolling chassis configurations and manufacturing capabilities, and GM’s commercial components and engines. “The trucks will be available under both the International® and Chevrolet brands, and will mark Navistar’s reentry into the Class 4/5 market,” the company said in a media statement. Australian Manufacturing

High tech manufacturing triumph for Australia Australia is en route to become the first country in the world to use the new “super material”, graphene in the large scale manufacture of an industrial product, said Mr Chris Gilbey, the CEO of Imagine Intelligent Materials (Imagine IM). Image credit: Imagine.com In April 2016, the Sydney headquartered Imagine IM signed an agreement with Australia’s largest geotextiles manufacturer, Geofabrics Australasia, which will see Geofabrics become the exclusive Australian licensee of Imagine IM’s graphene coating technology for applications in geotextiles. Mr Gilbey said that Geofabrics will use the technology to offer Australian civil engineering companies significantly improved capacity to locate and remedy leaks with applications in landfill and mining construction. “Increased environmental regulations in Australia and around the world are driven by the need to address water safety and conservation and by the need for cost effective leak detection in the mining industry. We estimate our technology will save customers around 20 to 40 percent on their current solution costs,” Mr Gilbey said. “Our graphene coating technology has the potential to become a key element of the world’s geotextiles industry which is growing at around ten percent per annum and will be worth around $20 billion by 2018 ($16 billion US). We have utilised graphene’s electrical conductivity to provide the means to detect pin hole sized leaks in geotextiles. Leak detection is important because, undetected leaks mean that there is potential for toxins to escape from tailings dams and landfills into ground water.” Brendan Swifte, the General Manager at Geofabrics, said the company was scheduled to provide the marketplace with the first of its graphene coated geotextile products in August this year. “We are the leading geotextiles manufacturer in Australia and we entered into the agreement with Imagine IM because of our belief in graphene and our belief in Imagine IM’s ability to quality assure the product and the supply chain,” Mr Swifte said. “We believe that our bidim® geotextile with graphene coating is a “game changer” for the geotextile industry. It will be a high tech solution at an extremely competitive price.” Imagine IM – which recently contracted Geelong-based Austeng to build the country’s first commercial graphene manufacturing plant – is in the process of developing additional products and solutions for the global geotextiles industry and is planning to migrate its platform technologies into other textile product lines where solving problems associated with water are highly valued. Mr Gilbey said that Imagine IM is currently discussing international licensing agreements for its graphene technologies in the United States. “The race to commercialise graphene has seen the launch of numerous companies in the USA, Europe and Asia. The European Commission has established the 1billion Euro Graphene Flagship Fund to help drive the commercialisation of graphene in Europe. In the UK, British Government support has helped establish the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester,” he continued. “However, up till now, no company has been able to develop a product that delivers at industrial scale the potential that has been indicated in research labs.” Australian Manufacturing

2016 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Gala Dinner announces award recipients The Australian Labor Government has recognised exemplary companies and individuals in the Victorian manufacturing industry at the 2016 Manufacturing Hall of Fame gala Dinner. Image credit: www.csl.com.au Broadmeadows-based CSL Behring took out the Large Manufacturer of the Year award; Coburg North-based Thycon was named Industrial the Medium Manufacturer of the Year, while Campbellfield-based H&H Machine Tools Australia won the Small Manufacturer of the Year award. Stuart Payne, from Mount Waverley based food processing company GP Graders, was announced as this year’s Honouree. Under Mr Payne’s stewardship, GP Graders has grown to become a global market leader in research and development, design, quality assurance, marketing and sales. Dr Ashley Denmead from Carbon Revolution –one of the inventors of the technology that led to the world’s first commercialised carbon fibre wheel – landed the Young Manufacturer of the Year prize. In addition, Paz Group (construction), Morgan Advanced Ceramics (advanced material), RF Industries (technology), Close the Loop (recycling), EBM Papst (refrigeration, heating and IT), Cablex (aerospace, defence, transportation, electronic and telecommunications) were all inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 2016 Manufacturing Hall of Fame Gala Dinner also recognised a number of companies for their excellence in sectors driving Victoria’s economic growth and jobs. The winners in the Growth Sector Awards category were: Medical technology and pharmaceuticals – MSD Animal Health, Bendigo East New energy technology – Mil Systems, West Footscray Food and fibre processing – Andrew Peace Wines, Piangil Transport, defence and construction technology – MHG Asia Pacific, North Geelong International education – Swinburne University, Hawthorn Professional services – Cobalt Design Pty Ltd, North Melbourne Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said the Labor Government is supporting companies in these growth sectors to create jobs and stimulate industry investment through the Future Industries Fund. “Manufacturing has a bright future in Victoria and these awards celebrate those businesses and individuals who are shaping the future of this important sector,” the Minister said. “We are investing in high growth sectors to create jobs and grow the economy and these awards recognise forward thinking businesses that are driving this economic growth. This year’s winners are all outstanding local businesses and individuals that are at the forefront of Victorian manufacturing and should be commended for their accomplishments.” Australian Manufacturing

Bitzer management concedes to workers demands The nine-week strike at refrigerator firm Bitzer ended on Friday after the company management bowed to the workers’ demands for a 10% pay raise over three years, a guarantee of permanency for casuals after six months service, as well as control over what hours they work. Image credit: www.amwu.org.au AMWU Assistant State Secretary Craig Kelly said the union’s organisers formed a guard of honour for the 54 AMWU members as they marched back through the gate for their first shift early last Thursday morning. “This brilliant outcome is a powerful signal to any employer wanting to erode conditions that they take on a united and industrially strong AMWU workforce at their own peril,” Mr Kelly said. “Our Bitzer members were like a dog with a bone – they just wouldn’t let go and they bit back.” Earlier this year, AMWU members had voted to take authorised industrial action and stop work indefinitely after management refused to abandon its plans to cut real wages and conditions in a new enterprise bargaining agreement. “Management have made no pay offer beyond the cost-of-living index, want to remove RDOs, stop contributing to income protection and pay any new workers the base award rate only rather than EBA rates,” the AMWU said in a media statement in the build up to the strike. “As part of a strategy to cut full-time wages and conditions, Bitzer management also want to reduce the wages of about eight casual workers by nearly a third. It offers them no prospect of permanency, even though some have worked there for the past few years.” The strike also forced Bitzer to slash the separate shifts brought in a year ago – which disadvantaged many workers – and provided members with access to WageGuard income protection and the opportunity for extra pay through re-classification of competency standards. “I reckon they wanted to divide us, they wanted new people coming in on very low minimum wages to slowly undermine our majority of permanent workers but it won’t happen and it never was going to happen,” said one AMWU member. Bitzer manufactures and markets a range of value-added refrigeration compressor systems and heat exchange products such as evaporators, condensers, coolers, dry coolers and custom coils. Australian Manufacturing

Tritium’s innovative technology could soon be powering electric vehicles around the globe Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pit has visited the manufacturing facilities of Brisbane-based innovation firm Tritium, the developer of the award-winning electric vehicle charging system Veefil. Image credit: writium.com.au Mr Pitt said the new technology was designed and built in Brisbane with a $2.5 million support from the Palaszczuk Government’s Business Development Fund, which is part of its Advance Queensland initiatives. “This home-grown company is the first to receive funding from the Business Development Fund and it’s exactly the type of innovative business that the Palaszczuk Government is looking to invest in,” the Treasurer said. “The Palaszczuk Government’s investment, alongside matched investment from private sector co-investors St Baker Energy Innovation Trust and the Varley Group, will help this world-leading Queensland business bring its innovative tech products onto the market sooner.” Launched in 2013, the Veefil® Electric Vehicle Fast Charger has the ability to charge an EV 20 times faster than plugging it into the wall at home, and to add 50km range to an EV battery in just 10 minutes. In 2014, the company partnered with Shanghai-based electric product manufacturer SSE to roll out this ground-breaking technology on a global scale. A year later, Tritium was approached by Charge Point, the world’s largest electric vehicle charging network, to install its fast charging stations across the country. To keep up with the growing demand from international market for its product range, the company moved to a new cutting-edge facility at the beginning of 2016. Tritium CEO David Finn said that the company was in the final stages of the commercialisation journey for its Veefil station. “Our fast charging technology is providing drivers of electric vehicles greater convenience to charge their cars anywhere,” Mr Finn said. “Backing from the Palaszczuk Government will allow us to expand our R&D, manufacturing and sales workforce, as well as finalise expansion at our new manufacturing facilities in Brisbane.” The $40 million Business Development Fund invests from $125,000 up to $2.5 million in matched funding, alongside private sector co-investors to help businesses transform their ideas and innovations into commercial realities. Australian Manufacturing

SA Government pledges $50m support for next Whyalla steelworks owner The South Australian Government has committed $50 million to support a new owner of the Whyalla steelworks. Image credit: www.arrium.com According to the press release by Premier Jay Weatherill, the funding will be placed in a facility that can only be accessed by a new owner if it is used to support the operations at Whyalla. The Premier also called for a bipartisan commitment from both major parties federally to contribute towards the funding to give the steelworks the best chance of survival. He said such commitment would mean that the total funding facility offered to a new purchaser would be $150 million, enough to support the long-term sustainability of steel-making at Arrium and maintain the company’s operations in South Australia. “The Arrium operations at Whyalla are critical to both South Australia and the nation as a whole – it is essential that we retain our sovereign steel-making capability,” Mr Weatherill stated. “I have written to the leaders of both major parties outlining our proposal to create a $150 million funding facility to be accessed by a future purchaser of the Whyalla steelworks. Given the national importance of this industry we expect a commitment from Mr Shorten and Mr Turnbull to back the proposed joint State-Commonwealth funding assistance package.” Arrium entered voluntary administration in April after a prolonged period of low commodity prices and the dumping of cheap, low-quality foreign steel in the Australian market. Australian Manufacturing

Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister joins Lockheed Martin Australia Board Mr Kim Beazley AC, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Australian Ambassador to the United States of America, has been appointed to the Lockheed Martin Australia Board. Image credit: http://ift.tt/U4v1UN Commenting on the appointment, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive Raydon Gates AO said that Mr Beazley ‘s remarkable career in the highest echelons of politics and international diplomacy would be invaluable for the company going forward. “Kim Beazley is one of Australia’s most distinguished statesmen, respected by all sides of politics, policymakers and industry alike, and we are thrilled he has accepted this appointment.” Mr Gates said. “As a passionate advocate for Australian industry and a former Defence Minister, Kim brings invaluable experience to the Lockheed Martin Australia Board.” The Hon Kim Beazley AC said he was looking forward to contributing to Lockheed Martin Australia’s ongoing success as a key technology partner to Australia’s Defence Force and broader industry sector. “Throughout my career I have developed a deep respect for Lockheed Martin, both as an industry leader and a technology innovator,” Mr Beazley added. Lockheed Martin has been present in Australia for 55 years. The company works with local partners to deliver systems and advanced engineering capabilities for customers in the Aeronautics, Maritime, Surveillance and Defence domains. Australian Manufacturing

Airbus extends use of Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform to its additive manufacturing programs Dassault Systèmes announced that the Airbus Group has decided to extend the use of its 3DEXPERIENCE platform to its additive manufacturing programs integrating design, simulation and production. Dassault Systèmes logoImage credit: Dassault Systèmes / Facebook page The decision – which follows a two-year comprehensive benchmarking process – will see Airbus Group deploy Dassault Systèmes’ collaborative design and simulation applications as part of the “Co-Design to Target” industry solution experience, for the additive manufacturing of tooling, prototyping and parts for test flights and for production use on commercial aircraft. “This provides Airbus Group with digital continuity to optimise its conceptual designs by virtually validating each phase of the additive manufacturing process,” the European multinational software company said in a press release. “Leveraging Dassault Systèmes’ applications and its own leadership and engineering expertise in additive manufacturing, Airbus Group can explore greater design and manufacturing possibilities to meet engineering and manufacturing requirements for the additive manufacturing of tools and parts.” Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is already adopted by the aerospace industry for creative product design and prototyping, with its use gradually extending to large-scale production Robert Nardini, Senior Vice President Engineering Airframe, Airbus, said the “Co-Design to Target” industry solution experience leverages applications for additive manufacturing to offer high flexibility in part design, production and testing and reduction in waste and costs associated with the manufacturing of complex aircraft parts. “Numerous projects across Airbus are accelerating the use of additive manufacturing to produce prototypes as well as production components potentially delivering lighter and less expensive parts that meet technological, performance, safety and cost standards,” Mr Nardini explained. “Airbus has long used Dassault Systèmes’ simulation applications to accelerate the structural analysis and virtual testing of aircraft and now we can define a new way of designing parts by leveraging simulation-based design to better answer aviation market needs.” Dominique Florack, Senior Executive Vice President, Research & Development, Dassault Systèmes remarked that additive manufacturing creates new opportunities in areas such as remote fabrication for support and maintenance, rapid prototyping for realising new concepts and experiences and, developing designs that were previously impossible to fabricate. “With this approach, Airbus Group will be able to take advantage of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform’s next generation automated design assistant for parts, whether they are 3D printed or not, thus accelerating a new wave of transformation in the aerospace industry,” Mr Florack said. “With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform we are delivering an end to end solution including all engineering parameters for the additive manufacturing of parts inclusive of material science, functional specification, generative design, 3D printing optimisation, production and certification.” Australian Manufacturing

Nuheara inks manufacturing agreement with Flextronics Perth-based innovative audio wearables company Nuheara has contracted global electronics manufacturer, Flexotronics (Flex) to manufacture the company’s IQbuds™ and related accessories. Image credit: Nuheara ASX release Flex design, build, ship and service complete packaged consumer and industrial products for leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Apple, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Lenovo and Huawei & Ericsson. Commenting on the partnership, Nuheara CEO Justin Miller said the company was very pleased to have “such a reputable company” manufacturing IQbuds™. “Our primary objectives in selecting a manufacturer were two-fold; the first as experience with a proven track record of quality, the second was ability to scale,” Mr Miller said. “Flex pedigree delivers on both of these objectives with operations management, process development and state of the art manufacturing technology and facilities that few others could meet.” Nuheara is developing proprietary hardware and software to deliver multi-functional intelligent hearing technology that augments a user’s hearing and facilitates cable free connection to smart devices. Australian Manufacturing

Sandfire Resources announces completion of DeGrussa solar project Sandfire Resources announced that the new solar power facility at its 100%-owned DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine in Western Australia has achieved full generation capacity. Image credit: arena.gov.au The facility is currently generating approximately 7MW of power – in line with seasonal expectations – with solar generating output to ramp up during the summer months to achieve full 10MW functional capacity. Located immediately adjacent to the DeGrussa underground mine and processing plant, the innovative $40 million solar project is the largest integrated off-grid solar and batter storage facility in the world. It comprises of more than 34,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels which are connected via an extensive network of low-voltage, high voltage and communication cables to a 6 MW lithium-ion battery storage facility and the existing 19MW diesel-fired power station at DeGrussa. Sandfire Managing Director Karl Simich said the project demonstrated that the adoption of renewable energy technologies at remote mine sites could have massive implications for the mining industry. “This project has already attracted a significant amount of interest from within the mining industry in Australia and Sandfire receiving inquiries from several of our peers interested in adopting this technology at their mine sites,” Mr Simich said. “I would not be surprised to see more facilities like this built over the next few years, as the benefits and potential of solar power became increasingly recognised across the resource sector.” The DeGrussa Power Solar Power Project is owned by the French renewable energy firm Neoen. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is supporting the project with $20.9 million recoupable grant funding and the CEFC has committed $15 million in debt finance. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the successful commissioning of this monumental off-grid renewable mining project marked a turning point for the use of renewable energy in off-grid industries. “This is a clear example of renewables providing substantial, reliable results for one of Australia’s largest industries,” Mr Frischknecht said. “The project has achieved a series of firsts. It’s the largest off-grid solar PV system in the world and one of the largest solar plants providing peak power load to a mining operation.” Australian Manufacturing

AGL Coopers Gap Wind Farm moves step closer to construction AGL’s proposed Coopers Gap Wind Farm Project near Kingaroy has edged closer to generating clean energy after the Office of the Coordinator General (OCG) declared it a Coordinated Project under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. Image credit: statedevelopment.qld.gov.au The company’s Executive General Manager Group Operations, Doug Jackson, welcomed OCG’s announcement, saying it is a significant step forward in progressing the project which could generate approximately 250 jobs at the peak of construction. “The Coopers Gap Wind Farm remains AGL’s foremost renewable energy project in Queensland with a high quality wind resource and one of the highest average wind speeds in the state. It would be the largest wind farm in Queensland with a proposed capacity of up to 350 MW,” Mr Jackson noted. “While there is still a long way to go before a final decision can be made on whether the project proceeds to construction, we look forward to working with local government and the community along with other government agencies to deliver the best possible outcome for the region and for Queensland.” Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the $500 million Coopers Gap Wind Farm would now move to an environmental impact statement with public consultation. “AGL Energy Limited has said the project could create up to 350 construction jobs and ongoing employment for up to 20 people in the region. Depending on the Coordinator-General’s evaluation, construction could start in late 2017 and take two and half years, making it operational by 2020,” the Minister said. “Our strong renewable energy agenda is clearly encouraging private sector investment in renewable energy. If AGL proceeds, this would be one of Australia’s largest green energy producers, and support our policy to generate half of Queensland’s electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030.” The Coopers Gap Wind Farm Project – to be located 180km north-west of Brisbane near Cooranga North – has a proposed installed capacity of approximately 350MW with around 115 wind turbines, which is enough to supply power to about 180,000 households. The wind farm is planned to be connected to a new Powerlink substation along the new Western Downs to Halys 275kV transmission line built by Powerlink. Australian Manufacturing

GE wraps up sale of Appliances business to Haier GE has completed the sale of its Appliances business to Chinese multinational consumer electronics and home appliances company Qingdao Haier for $5.6 billion. Image: http://twitter.com/generalelectric According to GE, the sale price includes an approximate $200 million increase from the originally announced sale price to account for increased working capital in the business. “The sale of GE Appliances is another step in the company’s portfolio transformation and its mission to become the world’s leading Digital Industry company,” said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. “By successfully acquiring Alstom’s power and grid assets, splitting off Synchrony Financial and by continuing to execute the GE Capital exit strategy ahead of plan, the team is making GE a simpler, more competitive company.” GE said the sale will generate an after-tax gain of approximately $0.20 per share, adding that it expects gains to be offset by restructuring for the year. Goldman Sachs provided financial advice to GE, while Sidley Austin LLP acted as GE’s legal advisor. Australian Manufacturing

3D printed Sound Cells powered by Intel amaze at Vivid Sydney Three sound canopy installations were designed and 3D printed specifically for this year’s VIVID Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, which for 23 days – from 27 May to 18 June 2016 – transforms the Harbour City. Screenshot from Vivid Sydney website (http://ift.tt/1t2hT3J) These strange looking creations are shaped like geometric clouds and have been 3D printed using Australia’s largest 3D printer and what they do is bring the magic of the Sydney Opera House outside. The Sound Cells are also equipped with LED lights which interact with the music, thus creating a wonderful dynamic light show to go along with the beat. The canopies were made from plastic sourced from recycled water bottles. Sound Cells is a collaboration between Intel and Sydney Opera House, while the three Sound Cells currently placed outside Australia’s most famous music venue where designed by Australian artist Joe Crossley. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1VL1egC The Sound Cells contain speakers which are optically connected to Intel Broadcast Studios and will be playing live audio from inside the Opera House; when there are no musical events inside, the canopies will be playing immersive music programmed by Perth producer Ta-Ku every day from 18:00 – 23:00. “These otherworldly, emotionally enriching pools of sound, vision and light are a place to sit, stand, lean, dance, and experience the Sydney Opera House like never before – bringing what happens inside the famous sails outside,” it says on VIVID Sydney’s website. For more info about his amazing event, please go to http://ift.tt/MRN7Df Australian Manufacturing

Austal announces JV with Jianglong Shipbuilding to conquer Chinese domestic ferry market Austal is re-entering the Chinese ferry market to design and build the next generation of high speed passenger ferries servicing domestic routes in the country. Image credit: australia.austal.com The company will form a joint venture with China’s Jianglong Shipbuilding to pursue commercial vessel opportunities on the Chinese market, where the company has delivered 52 high speed aluminium ferries to 20 customers since 1990. Austal CEO David Singleton pointed out that the Chinese Government mandates a maximum operating life of 25 years for commercial high sped ferries. He said the company was looking to take advantage of this regulative as all of these vessels – as well as those built by other manufacturers – will need to be replaced progressively during the next few years. “This mandated fleet replacement combined with a growing domestic requirement will present a major market opportunity for Austal,” Mr Singleton said. “As Chinese customers are now seeking locally built vessels, the joint venture with established local shipbuilder Jianglong will allow Austal to compete in the domestic Chinese market without the need to develop new shipyard facilities.” According to the ASX release by Austal, the JV will be known as Aulong Shipbuilding Co. Ltd and will be 40% owned by Austal. The new entity will build and market Austal-designed commercial aluminium vessels manufactured within Jianglong Shipbuilding’s existing facilities in Guangdong province, for mainland China-based customers. “The Aulong JV is a great example of Australian engineers exporting Australian engineered products to one of the world’s leading markets. We are combining the strength of a current high quality shipyard in China with Austal’s market leading designs,” Mr Singleton continued. “The ferry market is a global one and we have to position ourselves accordingly., our decision at the start of the last decade to build ferries in the USA led to our current large operational footprint in that county. China is a market in which we also need an established local presence.” Australian Manufacturing

Lincoln Minerals’ proposed $40m graphite mine hits major milestone Lincoln Minerals Ltd, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Australian Graphite Pty Ltd, has received the first of two key approvals for the proposed $40 million graphite mine located north of Port Lincoln. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1YdfEa4 SA Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the company has been granted a Mining Lease for the Kookaburra Gully graphite project which is expected to create 90 jobs on the lower Eyre Peninsula. “Through projects such as Kookaburra Gully, South Australia is emerging as a supplier of graphite to meet the global demand for renewable technologies using lithium ion batteries and solar thermal power generation systems,” the Minister said. “Granting a Mining Lease is the first stage of a two-step assessment of a mining proposal. The next step in the project is the preparation of a detailed operating plan for the mine, known as a Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR). The development of a PEPR by Lincoln Minerals, prepared in consultation with the stakeholders of the mine, will be rigorously assessed by the Department of State Development. The project will include an open-cut mine and a processing plant with an annual throughput of 250,000 tonnes to produce about 30,000–50,000 tonnes a year of graphite concentrate. Graphite produced at the mine is expected to be transported by container from the mine by road to the Port of Adelaide for export. Australian Manufacturing

AECOM appointed Owner’s Engineer for Genex’s Kidston solar project Power generation development company Genex Power has appointed engineering design firm AECOM as Owner’s Engineer for construction of the first phase 50MW Solar PV Project at Kidston in North Queensland. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1t6kGZP AECOM has assisted Genex on the development and feasibility of the Kidston Solar Project since mid-2015 and has played a key role in finalising the technical and commercial negotiations for the Connection Agreement with Ergon Energy. Additionally, AECOM has assisted Genex in the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) tendering and in shortlisting contractors, as well as in conducting technical and economic analysis of the solar project. AECOM has extensive experience working on solar projects both in Australia and worldwide. The company recently acted as Owner’s Engineer for the recently commissioned 10MW Sanfire DeGrussa Solar Power Project in Western Australia, and was appointed lead designer for the 20 MW Royalla Solar Farm and for the 15 MW Sunshine Coast Solar Farm. Genex Managing Director Michael Addison said AECOM’s experience in an Australian context will assist the company in managing compliance requirements, key risks and challenges during different project stages. “AECOM’s proven expertise in building Australian solar project adds to Genex’s project delivery team. We look forward to continuing our well established relationship with AECOM,” Mr Addison said. “The company remains on track to commence construction alter this year and targets first cash flow within 12 months of construction commencing.” Australian Manufacturing

Quickstep inks MoU with DCNS for Australia’s future subs collaboration Quickstep Holdings has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French shipbuilding company DCNS Group for joint cooperation in the manufacturing of components and assemblies for Australia’s Future submarines. Image credit: http://ift.tt/23mddD6 DCNS is France’s biggest shipbuilder and a European Leader in naval defence. The company was recently selected by the Australian Government as its preferred international partner for the design of twelve submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. Quickstep CEO and Managing Director David Marino said the company’s innovative technologies for the aerospace, defence and automotive sectors were also suitable for naval defence. He said Quickstep’s potential participation in the new SEA 100 submarine program complemented the company’s involvement in the JSF F-35 Program, both of which are long-term programs that will allow the development of new technologies. “The application of Quickstep’s carbon fibre composites expertise for the marine defence industry is a natural extension of our technology. We are delighted to commence this partnership with DCNS which is an acknowledged world leader in naval defence systems,” Mr Marino said. “The MoU provides opportunities for Quickstep to participate in DCNS’s supply chain and for the potential use of our technology in submarine platforms in Australia and overseas.” He said a mixed Quickstep/ DCNS committee will consider the parts and projects most relevant to implementation of Quickstep’s technology, adding that the company expects to develop and manufacture a number of demonstration parts during the next twelve months. “Testing of Quickstep’s process technologies for naval applications may lead to production of components for DCNS’ submarine program for Australia and export markets,” the company said in a media release. Composites provide advantages including high strength for weight, weight reduction, thermal insulation and the absence of magnetic signatures, and are already used in naval and commercial ships for manufaturing superstructures, bulkheads, propellers and interior panels. Australian Manufacturing

WATG collects top honours for the world’s first freeform 3D printed house Leading architectural firm WATG has won First Prize in the Freedom Home Design Challenge which invited architects, designers, engineers and artists from around the world to design the world’s first freeform 3D printed house. Image credit: www.watg.com Commissioned by Branch Technology, the challenge required participants to design a 600-800 square-foot single-family home that would “rethink” traditional architectural aesthetics, ergonomics, construction, building systems, and structure from the ground up. Each submission was required to offer conceptual solutions for all aspects of the house. For instance, the building envelope was to consider material applications, fenestration and structure, and the interiors were to include a kitchen, bath, living area and one bedroom. Additionally, building systems were to satisfy mechanical, electrical, plumbing and lighting requirements while allowing for passive solar design strategies at the same time. WATG’s Chicago-based team – consisting of Daniel Caven, Chris Hurst, Miguel Alvarez and Brent Watanabe – won the competition with their unique design called “Curve Appeal”. The design comprises of two main components: an interior core and exterior skin. The interior living spaces are designed to protect occupants from the elements via passive strategies while connecting them to the exterior spaces and nature itself. The exterior skin, on the other hand, is derived from simple archways that ultimately “blend with the site” leaving an organic presence. Branch Technology Founder, Platt Boyd said the proposal captured the potential for 3D printing to revolutionise design and construction. “Curve Appeal is a very thoughtful approach to the design of our first house,” Mr Boyd said, adding that the house is set to begin planning phases in Chattanooga, Tennessee at Branch Technology’s lab and is expected to begin 3D printing in 2017. “It responds well to the site conditions, magnifies the possibilities of cellular fabrication and pushes the envelope of what is possible while still utilising more economical methods for conventional building systems integration.” Australian Manufacturing

BHP Billiton teams up with Peking University to fast-track CCUS research BHP Billiton had inked a three-year, US$7.37 million agreement with Peking University (PKU) to unlock the potential of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) for steel production in China. Image credit: bhpbilliton.com Part of the company’s support for the development of low emissions technology across multiple sectors, the agreement will aim to identify the key policy, technical and economic barriers to CCUS deployment in the industrial sector, particularly in the iron and steel industries. BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie remarked that the agreement builds on the BHP Billiton SaskPower Carbon Capture Knowledge Centre established in February 2016 to share learnings on CCS for the power sector from the Boundary Dam project in Saskatchewan, Canada. “The application of carbon capture, use and storage may prove to be important to reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emitted by the steel sector in China and elsewhere. However investment in the technology is behind where it needs to be,” he said. “China leads the way in the planning and development of large scale CCUS projects and should CCUS become commercially proven it could be a significant industry for China. We hope this research will draw more capital into the development of CCUS for use in steelmaking and broader industrial applications.” Peking University President, Professor Lin Jianhua said the agreement with a trusted partner like BHP would fast-track the development of solutions to challenges faced by the country and the world. “We recognise the importance of international collaboration in addressing the global challenge of climate change. This new project will push forward the collaborative work on many fronts, help support China’s carbon reduction, as well as promote friendship and cooperation between China and Australia,” he said. Li Junfeng, Director General of China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation said the agreement would help meet the intensified greenhouse gas emissions control target adopted by the Paris Agreement last year. “This target requires further research into the development potential and supporting factors of low carbon technologies such as CCUS and renewable energies, both of which can help promote China’s transition to a low carbon economy.” he said. Australian Manufacturing

GM files preliminary recall of certain 2007-11 vehicles equipped with faulty Takata airbags GM is ordering a massive preliminary recall of certain 2007-2011 pickups and SUVs with passenger-side front airbag inflators covered by Takata defect information reports (DIRs) submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last month. Image credit: GM Facebook page “NHTSA’s Amended Consent Order directed Takata to file DIRs for previously unrecalled front airbag inflators using ammonium nitrate propellant without a drying agent. The order requires vehicle manufacturers named in the Takata reports to initiate recalls,” GM said in a media statement. “Although GM does not believe that a safety defect exists at this time, the company is filing a preliminary recall in cooperation with NHTSA. GM expects to provide NHTSA with additional test data, analysis or other relevant and appropriate evidence in support of its belief that these GM vehicles do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety.” GM said that because of the large number of vehicles with Takata inflators and the limited number of available replacements, the NHTSA order set up a multi-year, risk-based schedule for inflator replacements that prioritises vehicles and regions of the country that pose a higher risk to safety. “GM believes that its 2007-2011 trucks and SUVs do not pose an unreasonable safety risk at this time,” reads the statement. “This is based on no inflator ruptures during an estimated 44,000 crash deployments as well as analysis of parts returned from the field, and can be explained by the unique Takata inflator made for GM’s vehicles and features unique to GM trucks and SUVs.” According to the company, the preliminary recall will cover 2007-2011 pickups and SUVs including: Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT and Escalade ESV; and 2009-2011 Silverado and Sierra 2500 and 3500 pickups. “Because the Takata DIRs are based on both vehicle age and the state in which the vehicle is or has been registered, the specific vehicles and total number of vehicles covered by this preliminary recall will be determined following an analysis of vehicle registration data,” it says in the media statement. Australian Manufacturing

Amcor acquires South America’s largest flexible packaging business Amcor has completed the acquisition of Alusa, the largest flexible packaging business in South America. Image credit: Amcor webpage This deal marks Amcor’s second purchase in the space of just over two weeks following last month’s acquisition of Plastic Moulders Limited, a rigid plastics business that manufactures containers and closures for the food and personal care markets in North America. Alusa has four plants – one in each of Chile, Peru, Colombia and Argentina – and generates sales of approximately US$375 million. “Amcor now has a unique platform in an important growth region,” the Australian-based multinational packaging company said in a media statement. “Along with leadership positions in Europe and Asia, a strong presence in South America significantly improves Amcor’s customer value proposition in the flexible packaging marketplace, positioning us as a partner of choice for customers.” Australian Manufacturing

Turnbull’s PaTH internship program alerts Unions The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has raised concerns that the PaTH internship program unveiled in the federal budget posed a serious risk for young workers in the auto industry. Image credit: www.business.gov.au The ACTU argues that the (prepare- trial- hire) intern scheme, which extends $4 an hour internships to the auto trades, could undermine Australia’s entire wage system by allowing businesses to access “a pool of free labour” instead of employing workers on a minimum wage. “This internship program is a path to nowhere – it’s replacing existing entry-level jobs with a churn and burn scheme that gives business access to free, exploitable workers. Paying young workers $4 per hour is not far above the rates in third world sweat shops – it’s outrageous and it puts our entire wage system at risk. Why would a business employ a minimum wage or lower paid worker when the government is ready to supply them with free labour and a $1000 handout?,” said CTU Secretary Dave Oliver. “Subsiding long term unemployed to perform low skilled work in supermarkets is not a plan to create, real lasting jobs. The government should be investing in TAFE, higher education and apprenticeships – but these have all been cut.” The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) was similarly critical of the PaTH program, saying it opened the way for unemployed people aged under 25 to be “used up by unscrupulous employers”. “This is cheap labour to be exploited – it’s inevitable some employers will cut back on full-paid employees then get the most menial, dirtiest tasks done by a churning flow of young interns who would each be turfed after their subsidy ran out,” said AMWU National Vehicles Secretary Dave Smith. “Why pay and train an apprentice to do basic tasks in their first-year when you can get a subsidised intern? Why pay a car cleaner or detailer a $17 award rate when you can get an intern for virtually nothing? That would be the logic of many unscrupulous bosses.” Australian Manufacturing

Ansell sells its ONGUARD® footwear protection business Global protection solutions leader Ansell has s sold its ONGUARD® footwear-protection business to Dunlop Industrial and Protective Footwear, Inc. Image credit: Ansell Facebook page According to the press release by Ansell, the transaction includes footwear protection products that are primarily sold in the US under the ONGUARD brand, as well as the company’s manufacturing facility in Havre de Grace, Maryland. “We remain focused on the execution of our strategic priorities, and divestiture of the ONGUARD brand is a step to concentrate the Body Protection business to segments we can lead globally,” said Magnus Nicolin, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Ansell. “This move enables us to focus on the globalisation of our innovative range of chemical clothing for Industrial, Chemical, Oil & Gas, and Life Science customers.” Ansell’s ONGUARD footwear protection is a small portion of BarrierSafe Solutions International Inc, a company which Ansell acquired in January 2014. Ansell said that the transaction is expected to be” marginally accretive” to F’16 EPS and approximately 2 cents dilutive to F’17 EPS assuming the proceeds are used to repay debt. According to the company, all of the other Body Protection brands, including Microgard®, Microchem®, Hercules®, AlphaTec®, Trellchem®, and Viking® will remain in its ownership and will continue to provide a comprehensive protection offering to the consumer. Dunlop Industrial and Protective Footwear, Inc. is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of protective footwear. Recognised for the iconic Dunlop brand, the proprietary Purofort® technology and innovative product lines, the Company rates highly in the Agriculture, Food, Industry and Oil and Gas sectors. Australian Manufacturing

Turning Queensland into Asia-Pacific biofutures hub Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a $20 million investment under her Government’s Queensland Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan that aims to position the state as an Asia-Pacific hub for biofutures industries. Image credit: haveyoursay.dsd.qld.gov.au Ms Palaszczuk launched the Biofutures Roadmap during the Queensland reception at the BIO International Conference in San Francisco, saying it would provide multi-million dollar funds to four key areas to boost the state’s footprint in the industrial biotechnology and bioproducts sector. According to the Premier, the Action Plan will provide $5 million for a Biofutures Industry Development Fund to financially assist companies complete due diligence and achieve financial close to allow better access to venture capital markets. The Action plan will also set aside $4 million for a Biofutures Acceleration Program to identify strategic catalytic investment opportunities and attract a signature keystone investor or investors to Queensland. Additionally, $5 million will be allocated for a Biofutures Commercialisation Program that will specifically assist businesses – in partnership with a Queensland research organisation – manage the significant risk in the development and scale-up of technology. And finally, $5 million will be invested in the establishment of Biofutures Queensland, a dedicated industry sectoral unit that will be the State’s focal point for biofutures industry support. “I promised Queenslanders my Government would work towards creating the jobs of the future, and this Biofutures Roadmap with funding will help deliver on that promise. We are thinking long-term about the establishment of a major new industry that has the potential to create a fresh and long-lasting wave of prosperity for Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “As well as discussing biofuels in several meetings on this trade mission, I also met with the US Navy’s 3rd Fleet in San Diego, following my previous visit to the Pentagon last year. The US Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and the major airlines all see Queensland’s potential to become a biofuels powerhouse. We have the will and the determination to make this new industry a reality, and now through this funding we have the means to do it.” State Development Minister Anthony Lynham said the Government aimed to create a A$1 billion sustainable and export-oriented industrial biotechnology and bioproducts sector, attracting international investment to the state by 2025. “Global demand for the biobased market expected to exceed US$1 trillion by 2022 We have a favourable climate, a strong existing agricultural sector, a highly skilled workforce, well developed supply chains, proximity to south-east Asia and a world class research and development sector,” Dr Lynham said. “All those factors, combined with a Government committed to working in partnership with the private and academic sectors, means we have what it takes.” Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland was “already making great inroads in this area” with three commercial biorefinery plants located in the State: Wilmar BioEthanol plant in Sarina; the Dalby BioRefinery (United Petroleum); and the Ecotech Biodiesel refinery in Narangba. “We have also poached Southern Oil Refining from New South Wales to Gladstone, where they will be building a A$16 million advanced biofuels pilot plant at their Yarwun facility in Gladstone,” she said. “If successful, this pilot plant will be expanded to a large commercial-scale refinery producing 200 million litres of advanced biofuel per annum, suitable for military, marine and aviation use. The biofutures industry is a key priority for my Government, and we have now given industry the certainty and vision required for them to invest in Queensland.” Australian Manufacturing

Australia’s first array of wave power generators sets new world record The Perth based Carnegie Wave Project has broken another world record, completing 14,000 cumulative operating hours – the highest ever recorded for the global wave energy industry. Image credit: arena.gov.au The Perth Wave Energy Project is the world’s first commercial-scale wave energy array that is connected to the grid and has the ability to produce desalinated water. In the past year, the CETO 5 project has used an array of three off-shore wave power generators to provide clean electricity and potable desalinated water to Australia’s largest naval base, HMAS Stirling, on Garden Island in Western Australia. In a country surrounded by oceans, where more than 80% of the entire population lives on the coast, the project demonstrated that wave technology has the potential to not only deliver sustainable energy solution for remote and on-grid communities, but to become an exportable global solution too. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the CETO 5 project was a “prime example” of how, with the right guidance and support, a technology can be progressed along the innovation chain towards commercialisation. “ARENA is proud to help local companies, like Carnegie, develop new renewable energy solutions that have the potential to change the way the world generates electricity. We do this by providing Australian innovators with the support they need during the critical RD&D period, when patient funding is essential,” Mr Frischknecht said. “The CETO 5 project demonstrates what this support can do for a technology’s development: assisting Carnegie to propel its technology’s development from an independently assessed Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of five, to a seven out of nine, in just three short years.” According to Mr Frischknecht, the data generated throughout the CETO 5 project is being shared within the ARENA portfolio and the renewable energy industry in order to help other wave energy projects advance faster and overcome development obstacles. Australian Manufacturing

Applications now open for the Governor of Victoria Export Awards Applications for the 37th edition of the prestigious Governor of Victoria Export Awards are now open. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1o2iq1A The Governor of Victoria Export Awards have been established to recognise Victoria’s most successful and innovative exporters and to stimulate greater involvement in exporting among Victorian businesses. The Awards celebrate the innovation and hard work of exporters across 12 categories including agribusiness, business services, creative industries, digital technologies, e-commerce, education and training, environment, health and biotechnology, manufacturing, minerals, energy and regional development. Award winners become eligible for the Victorian Award for Innovation Excellence and the prestigious Victorian Exporter of the Year, and can also self-nominate for the Victorian Women in International Business Award. Governor of Victoria Export Award winners also become finalists in the Australian Export Awards – a national awards program held in November – which will see the Victorian winners compete against other state and territory finalists for the national awards. Applications close on 31 July 2016. For more information or to apply, please visit http://ift.tt/1YRiL5B. Australian Manufacturing

Orica appoints new Board member Orica’s Chairman Malcom Broomhead has announced the appointment of Ms Karen Moses to the company’s Board, effective immediately. Image credit: www.orica.com MS Moses has over 30 years’ experience in the energy industry spanning oil, gas, electricity and coal commodities and upstream production, supply and downstream marketing operations. She worked with Origin Energy from 1994 until 2015, most recently as Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, and is currently supporting Origin in a transitional arrangement until her departure in August 2016. Ms Moses, who held various roles at Exxon and BP prior to joining Origin, is a director of Boral Limited, Sydney Symphony Limited, SAS Trustee Corporation and Sydney Dance Company. She has also held senior roles in Contact Energy Limited (2004-2015), Energia Andina S.A., Australian Energy Market Operator Ltd (2009-2012), Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) Ltd, Australian Energy Market Operator (Transitional) Ltd and VENCorp (2007-2009). Mr Broomhead welcomed Ms Moses to the company’s Board, saying her executive experience across finance and strategy would be invaluable for the company moving forward. “I am delighted with Karen’s appointment to the Orica Board. She is an exceptional business leader who brings a wealth of experience from the energy industry, across oil, gas, electricity and coal industries globally,” he said. “Her experience will enable her to provide valuable additional insight into our customer base, while also adding additional financial and strategy capacity to the Board.” Ms Moses, who will offer herself for election as a Director at the next Annual General Meeting in December 2016, said she was happy to be joining the company’s Board. “I am thrilled to be joining the Board of a world class Australian company, with a strong legacy. I look forward to working with the other Directors in contributing to the future success of a great company,” she said. Australian Manufacturing

Thales installs state-of-the-art train control system into the world’s longest railway tunnel Thales has integrated its cutting-edge train control system, ETCS Level 2, into the new Gotthard Tunnel connecting the Swiss-Italian and Swiss-German regions under the Alps. Image credit: www.thalesgroup.com “Thales’s advanced ETCS signalling technology will allow for the circulation of more than 300 trains per day at speeds of up to 250km/h in both directions,” the company said in a media statement. “This is the result of a global investment of 12 billion Swiss francs, including 1.9 billion for the railway equipment and 196 million for Thales’s contribution.” Thales said its involvement in the Gotthard project spans managing the development, production, installation, integration and homologation of the rail signalling systems within the overall system. “These systems have been built up under realistic conditions in the company’s Gotthard laboratory in Zurich and are the result of 8 years of work by a German-Italian bilingual team!” reads the statement. The Gotthard Tunnel will stretch over 57 km at a depth of 2.300 meters under the Alps, cutting travel times from Zurich to Milan to under 3 hours (an hour less than today). Now officially the world’s longest railway tunnel, it is expected to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, as it will shift transportation from road to rail. “We are very proud to contribute to this exceptional project, which was the most important missing link of the European corridors, connecting Rotterdam to Genoa,” said Peter Huber, General Project Manager Transtec Gotthard. “In spite of the complexity of the programme, we have successfully delivered the whole railway system for the tunnel including Thales’s signalling system, one year in advance.” Australian Manufacturing

Scientists develop world’s first robot that can procreate Dutch scientists have developed the world’s first robot that can procreate, paving the way for the beginning of a new area where machines that autonomously operate and reproduce are no longer fiction. Image credit: www.vu.nl Professor of Artificial Intelligence at VU Amsterdam Guszti Eiben and his team described their achievement as “a significant first step in the Industrial Evolution” that can play an important role in, for instance, the colonisation of Mars. This incredible achievement was illustrated during Campus Party in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht on 26 May, where two of Professor Eiben’s robots demonstrated robot mating and the first robot baby was unveiled. “This means that in addition to developing their brains by learning, robots can now develop their bodies through evolution. Because robot parents select suitable mating partners with certain desirable properties, successive generations can improve their physical form and behaviour, adjusting these to their environment and the task they have to perform,” it says in the press release by VU Amsterdam. “This makes them suitable for locations where the circumstances are unknown in advance, such as mines in deep seas or other planets.” Mr Eiben and a group of scientists from other universities have previously established a system architecture that consists of a “Birth Clinic”, a “Nursery”, and an “Arena” where robots live, work, and reproduce. Following a year and a half development period, Mr Eiben and his team at the VU succeeded in implementing a complete life cycle. They were able to complete a proof-of-concept and created physical robots that have their own “DNA” and can produce children via a 3D-printer. Professor Eiben said that during reproduction the features of the parents are randomly recombined, including the software (the brain) as well as the hardware (the body). He said that after “birth” the newborn robot undergoes a learning process; if it passes muster it becomes an adult and can become a parent itself. “Evolution is a great designer. The Evolution of Things is an emerging new technology that exploits the power of selection and reproduction to breed robot designs that are hard to obtain by traditional approaches,” Mr Eiben stated. “Robots that evolve can adapt to their environment and cope with unforeseen situations. The bodies, brains, and behaviours are continually tested by the environment and the useful traits are amplified in future generations. This technology opens new perspectives for robotics, artificial intelligence, space research, and even biology.” Australian Manufacturing

Seven automotive supply chain companies receive government funding to diversify into new markets The Andrews Labor Government has announced $112,000 million in funding to help seven automotive supply chain businesses across Melbourne identify new opportunities and target markets ahead of the closure of automotive manufacturing in Victoria. Image credit: www.business.gov.au The funding was awarded through the Government’s Automotive Supply Chain Transition Program (ASCTP), which is part of the $46.5 million Automotive Transition Plan. Fund recipients include Bayswater-based Composite Materials Engineering, Venture Campbellfield Pty Ltd (Campbellfield), Venture DMG (Keysborough), Boge Elastmetall Australia Pty Ltd (Dingley), Roehlen Industries Pty Ltd (Mordialloc), Dolphin Products Pty Ltd (Heidelberg West) and Entegro Group Pty Ltd (Brooklyn). Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said that under the ASCTP, eligible supply chain companies can receive assistance valued at $16,000 to develop a transition plan. He said businesses can then apply for funding of up to $50,000 to implement the key transition activities identified in their plan. “The Andrews Labor Government is supporting businesses, workers, and communities hardest hit by the closure of automotive manufacturing in Victoria. Automotive supply chain companies will receive support to develop transition plans,” Mr Noonan said. “This funding will provide tailored case management services to assist automotive supply chain businesses to diversify into new markets.” According to the Minister, funding is also available for business capability development, including assistance with management skills, sales and marketing strategies, financial management, new product development and marketing opportunities. Automotive supply chain companies looking to apply for ASTCP assistance, or specialist companies seeking to deliver transition projects for the program, can do so at: http://ift.tt/1RHEYR0 or call Business Victoria on 13 22 15. Australian Manufacturing

Australian PMI: Manufacturing expands for eleventh straight month in May The Australian PMI® has expanded for an eleventh straight month in May – the longest unbroken period of growth since September 2006 – despite falling 2.4 points to 51.0. Image credit: aigroup.com.au According to Ai Group’s report, six of the seven activity sub-indexes expanded in May, with the employment sub-index down 3.4 points to 45.6. As in April, five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded. Food, beverages & tobacco went down 8.8 points to 65.3 and wood & paper products went up 1.9 points to 67.7, while petroleum & chemicals grew by 5.4 points to 59.9. Printing & recorded media was up 4.1 points, but is still in below the 50 points level that separates expansion from contraction and now stands at 49.7. Machinery & equipment (up 2.8 points to 50.6) both stabilised, while metal products (up 0.2 points to 44.1) and textiles, clothing & other manufacturing (down 3.9 points to 47.1) dropped into contraction in May. The input prices sub-index expanded by 5.9 points in May to 63.2, whereas wages growth strengthened again, rising 3.9 points to 61.3. The manufacturing selling prices sub-index climbed 5.5 points and is now in expansionary territory at 50.6. “The Australian PMI® consolidates almost a year of expansion and continues the longest unbroken period of growth for the Australian PMI® since September 2006. Australian manufacturing is recovering in 2016 in response to the lower dollar, but it is also rebalancing in response to changes in global production and consumption trends,” said Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox. “We are seeing an increasing focus on consumable goods such as food, groceries and health products as well as building materials for the construction industry. We are still seeing contraction, however, in the heavy industrials categories and especially in metals and some types of machinery and equipment manufacturing such as automotive production. On balance, the positives are outweighing the negatives at present.” Australian Manufacturing

Santos’ GLNG project hits another key milestone with first LNG production from Train 2 Leading oil and gas producer Santos announced that its second GLNG train on Curtis Island near Gladstone in Queensland has started producing LNG. Image credit: Santos Limited Australia/YouTube (screenshot) LNG production from train 1 commenced in September 2015, and the company has since produced over two million tonnes of LNG and shipped 32 cargoes. Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said the first LNG production from train 2 was “another milestone” for GLNG and marked the successful delivery of the two-train project. “GLNG train 2 start-up adds to Santos’ LNG portfolio, which also includes the Darwin LNG and PNG LNG projects,” Mr Gallagher said. Santos has a 30% interest in GLNG. Other co-venturers include PETRONAS (27.5%), Total (27.5%) and KOGAS (15%). Australian Manufacturing

Coalition Government announces $579m support package for Australian dairy farmers A $579 million support package to help Australian dairy farmers affected by Fonterra and Murray Goulburn’s decision to slash prices has been announced by the Coalition Government. Image credit: http://ift.tt/UIP19U The support plan was unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, last week. “I was pleased to meet dairy farmers in Victoria last week and the Coalition wants to send a clear message that the Coalition stands shoulder to shoulder with them,” Mr Joyce said. “The Coalition will be making immediately available $55 million in Dairy Recovery Concessional Loans for Murray-Goulburn and Fonterra suppliers this year, as well as access to $500 million in concessional loans over 2016-17 and 2017-18 years. The recovery loans will be for terms of 10 years.” According to the official announcement, the key elements of the support package are: $555 million in Dairy Recovery Concessional Loans $20 million to fast track the upgrade of the Macalister Irrigation District $2 million to establish a commodity milk price index $900,000 for an additional 9 Rural Financial Counsellors in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales $900,000 for Dairy Australia’s ‘Tactics for Tight Times’ programme Fast tracking Farm Household Allowance applications with 18 more Department of Human Services employees processing claims Appointment of a Department of Human Services Dairy Industry Liaison Officer Redirection of two Department of Human Services Mobile Service Centres to dairy regions Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the money would provide much-needed support for affected farmers, most off whom will lose their profits. “The Deputy Prime Minister has said that the index would introduce greater transparency and market signals in domestic and global milk prices. The Coalition will consult with the industry on the design of the index that would provide dairy farmers with valuable information for use in supply negotiations with processors and to assist in following international price trends,” Mr Turnbull said. Australian Manufacturing

Toyota celebrates sale of nine-millionth hybrid car Toyota has sold nine million Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles around the world, including more than 85,800 delivered in Australia. Toyota Corolla Hybrid (pre-production vehicle shown)Image credit: Toyota The world’s leading carmaker has announced that its hybrid vehicles have saved their owners “25 billion litres of petrol”, which would be enough fuel for each of these cars to travel around the Earth. The total fuel savings from these nine million hybrids is not the only advantage, as Toyota has also estimated its hybrid vehicles have resulted in nearly 67 million fewer tonnes of CO2 emissions “than would have been emitted by petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.” “Toyota’s hybrid vehicles are renowned for their performance, reliability, durability and exceptionally low running costs as well as their contribution to the environment and to saving precious fossil fuels,” said Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb in a news release. “In Australia, we are looking forward to bringing Toyota’s full hybrid technology to the country’s best-selling car, Corolla – a move that will further broaden the market appeal of both.” Back in February, Toyota announced that it will introduce the Corolla Hybrid in the second half of this year. The Corolla Hybrid will use around one-third less fuel than its traditional, petrol-only counterpart. The new hybrid Corolla will feature satellite navigation, Toyota Link connected mobility, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning and bi-LED headlamps, as well as a Euro 5 compliant 73kW 1.8-litre petrol engine mated to a 60kW electric motor. The Camry is the best-selling hybrid vehicle in Australia, with 37,879 deliveries, while on a global level the Prius is the best-selling hybrid with 3.7 million sales since its debut in Japan in December 1997. Toyota’s hybrids are sold in over 90 markets in the world. Australian Manufacturing

Evolve Group wins prestigious Good Design Australia Award of the Year 2016 Evolve Group is the winner of the coveted 2016 Good Design Award of the Year. Image credit: Evolve Group (http://ift.tt/1Xd1czG) The Brisbane based product design and manufacturing firm conquered hundreds international superstar product submissions from leading companies such as Tesla, Google, Ford, Miele, Nespresso, Pepsi, Braun, Ryobi, to name just a few. The company shared the win with Cedar and Stuart Anderson, the inventors of the Flow Hive, an innovative beehive which was launched last year via crowdfunding. Their invention works by providing the bees with a partially-completed wall of honeycomb cells which they then complete with their own wax. The bees then fill the cells with honey and cap them, after which the beekeeper inserts a tool into the top of each frame and twists – a move that splits each cell in the honeycomb vertically – allowing the honey to flow freely down to a sealed trough at the base of the frame and out of the hive, without disturbing the bees. Image credit: Evolve Group (http://ift.tt/1Xd1czG) Evolve Group was responsible for the design for manufacture and design optimisation of the Flow Hive product as well as the end to end fulfilment of the global orders. Since late 2015, the company has produced over 20 million parts in their new product development facility and has shipped product to nearly 130 different countries in the world. “With many manufacturers struggling to keep their doors open, we have continued to grow and are reshaping the manufacturing industry in Australia. We have such a rich history of innovation in this country, and there are a lot of great products being designed in Australia but the manufacturing is often completed elsewhere, we are providing Australians with the means to produce their products in Australia and reap the rewards of local manufacturing. The key is concentrating on what we can do well and putting focus on great product design and cutting edge manufacturing technology which will keep Australia’s manufacturing future bright,” said Evolve Group’s Managing Director Ty Hermans. According to Mr Hermans, manufacturing products in Australia is cost effective and also contributes to Australian jobs. “It’s very frustrating every time a project is taken offshore before considering getting a local manufacturer to quote on the work,” Mr Hermans said. “We are actually re-shoring jobs that went to China years ago as we demonstrate the many benefits of working with a local supplier that extend far beyond just cheaper part costs.” Australian Manufacturing

Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry to gather under one roof at FoodTech Qld 2016 FoodTech Qld 2016, the new and only trade event for the food and beverage manufacturing industry in Queensland, is approaching fast. Supervisor and manager watching plastic bottles on conveyor beltImage provided Scheduled to take place on 26-28 June at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in Queensland, the event will offer a close up on new technologies and developments that are crucial to the food processing industry. FoodTech has announced a timetable of seminars led by industry experts and covering trending topics and issues pertinent to the food manufacturing industry. Topics include the importance of pH in food management, emerging ingredient trends, the issue of energy efficiency, industry technology developments on infrastructure, and the increasing demand for food traceability across both industry and consumers. Attendees will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with the country’s best food scientists when the 2016 AIFST Convention co-locates with FoodTech Qld. The annual Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AISFT) National Convention is the premier food technology conference in Australia for industry, research, and government organisations locally and overseas. In addition to exploring the latest trends innovations, technologies challenges and opportunities, the convention also provides delegates the chance to hear case studies firsthand on subjects ranging from sustainability and waste to food safety, to the government’s commitment to the food sector. Program highlights include: Andre Teixeira from CSIRO discussing Challenging the Innovation Thought Process, Elliot Chapple from Pozible presenting on Driving Digital Innovation Through Crowdsourcing, and Maja Christiansen of Bruker discussing Mass Spec and Confirmation of Microbiological Pathogens. The event will also be showcasing innovative robots for use in the food manufacturing and processing industries – including a Bot called Kuka – which will be showing off its skills, even holding an iPad for visitors to the Wiley stand (Stand D27). HMPS (Stand B27) is also bringing their robot YuMi to the show – the world’s first truly collaborative dual-arm robot. FoodTech will also feature a short film put together by the creative team at Gelita (Stand H34), detailing the amazing world of gel and its incredible usage. Titled You Can See, the movie will inspire visitors even further about the great industries that FoodTech Qld is catering to. Underlining the importance of food safety, food labelling, and increasingly food traceability, FoodTech will provide visitors with access and insight to the crucial tasks of food and microbial testing, cleaning products and methods, and equipment designed to increase safety and decrease problems. “Take control of the health of your business – and of your customers – through access to information including how to avoid the incredibly common problem of listeria, and products designed to make testing for food allergens,” it says in the press release issued by FoodTech 2016. Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems wins $62m US Navy contracts to maintain two ships in Jacksonville BAE Systems has secured two contracts from the US Navy for the repair and maintenance of two ships based in Jacksonville, Florida. Image credit: www.baesystems.com According to the company, the two contracts have a combined value of $61.7 million and a cumulative value of $68.6 million, provided all options are exercised. “These contracts are important because they help sustain our workforce, allowing us to continue providing vital maintenance and modernisation capabilities to the Navy,” said David Thomas, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair. “Our dedicated team is eager to get to work on these valuable warships. Our familiarity with them will help us to effectively partner with the Navy to get them back in operation for long, continued service to our nation.” BAE said that the first contract award – valued at $32.5 million – is for the docking selected restricted availability of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99). “The company will drydock the 509.5-foot-long destroyer this summer and will perform structural and tank repairs, propulsion system repairs, ventilation, and auxiliary systems repairs, as well as preservation of crew habitability systems and spaces,” BAE said in a media statement. “This contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $33.7 million. The work is expected to be completed by January 2017.” The second Navy contract, for which BAE received $29.2 million, is for the phased maintenance availability of the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSC 43). “The company will perform maintenance and modernisation work aboard the 610-foot-long amphibious warfare ship at the Mayport Naval Station, starting in July,” reads the statement. “Work aboard the Fort McHenry includes hull, machinery, electrical, electronics, and piping alterations and repairs. The contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $34.9 million. The work is expected to be completed by May 2017.” The company’s shipyards in Jacksonville are full-service ship repair operations. On top of naval maintenance and modernisation work, BAE System’s Heckscher Drive shipyard team is also contracted to provide repair services to several private yacht and workboat owners, while also nearing completion of a 141-foot-long articulated tug barge under construction at the yard. Australian Manufacturing

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop tours Phebra’s manufacturing plant at Lane Cove West Australian-based specialty pharmaceutical company Phebra has thanked Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Federal Member for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman for their visit to the company’s manufacturing plant at Lane Cove West. Left to right: Lane Cove Mayor Deborah Hutchens, Federal Member for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Phebra CEO Dr Mal Eutick.Image provided Phebra CEO, Dr Mal Eutick said the visit provided the company with an opportunity to brief the Minister on its practices for the manufacture of a wide range of critical medicines for the domestic market and how it opened–up new export pipelines around the world. “As an Australian-owned company, Phebra takes a keen interest in the Government’s trade agenda and what it means for our capacity to tap into export markets while still preserving our intellectual property,” Dr Eutick said. “Australia has a lot of potential in the sciences and advanced manufactured and I am pleased to see the Government is committed to addressing the need for developing a skilled workforce to meet these new challenges.” After inspecting the plant, Minister Bishop remarked that Phebra was at the forefront of Australia’s efforts to establish itself as a global leader in the medicines industry. “In the area of pharmaceuticals and medicines, this company (Phebra) is leading the way, and we should be so very proud of it, so that’s what we are seeking to do as a Coalition, grow the economy, particularly in some of these niche and specialist areas, and create more high quality jobs for the Australian people.” Dr Eutick also thanked Mr Zimmerman for arranging the Minister’s visit in Phebra and Lane Cove Mayor, Cir. Deborah Hutchens who also took part in the official tour. Australian Manufacturing

Remote mining town in SA to draw power from hybrid solar and wind systems Energy Developments Limited (EDL) has engaged Hydro Tasmania to deploy its world leading technology in Coober Pedy, SA, to help transform the remote town into a renewable energy township. Image credit: arena.gov.au The Coober Pedy Renewable Diesel Hybrid project involves a hybrid combination of 1MW solar, 4MW wind generation, a 1MW, 0.5MWh battery storage and inverter system as well as a range of additional proven technologies, integrated with EDL’s existing 3.9MW diesel power station in Coober Pedy. The project has been made possible by $18.4 million Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) funding support to EDL. Once Hydro Tasmania’s technology has been deployed, the opal mining town of about 3500 people will draw an average 70% of its energy from solar and wind, and full 100% when weather conditions allow it. Hydro Tasmania’s technologies earmarked for use on the Coober Pedy project were developed for the ARENA-supported King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project, which has reduced the Bass Strait Island’s annual diesel consumption by 60 per cent on average. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the Coober Pedy project was a prime example of Australia’s world-leading expertise in devising renewable micro-grid solutions with strong commercial potential. “This is a next-generation off-grid project that’s taking advantage of advanced renewable and enabling technologies being deployed and trialled by Hydro Tasmania across three different projects with $16.3 million total ARENA funding support,” Mr Frischknecht said. “Combining wind, solar, battery storage and smart control systems could provide a blueprint for off-grid communities to access cleaner and cheaper power and achieve energy independence by greatly reducing their reliance on trucked-in diesel. We’re committed to working with Hydro Tasmania to share the learning from its projects, maximising the benefits from ARENA funding and accelerating the rollout of renewable energy in remote Australia.” Under the contract between the two parties, Hydro Tasmania will supply EDL with its proprietary enabling technology, comprised of control, load management and storage systems. Australian Manufacturing

Galaxy Resources and General Mining set to merge Galaxy Resources and General Mining have agreed to merge under a $700-plus million agreement announced on Monday. Image credit: Galaxy Resources website The merger will create a leading diversified global lithium company that will aim to capitalise on the surging demand for the commodity on the market. The agreement values General Mining at approximately $216 million and will see Galaxy acquire all of the issued share of General Mining that it does not already own in a share based transaction by way of an off-market takeover offer. “Under the offer, General Mining shareholders will receive 1.65 new Galaxy shares or every 1 General Mining share held, which represents a 9.4% premium to the 10-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) and 13.5% premium to the 20-day VWAP,” reads the joint statement to the ASX. The two companies are joint venture partners in the Mt Cattlin lithium mine in Western Australia’s southwest. The joint venture was created in 2015, enabling the re-commissioning of production at the mine earlier this year. Since then, the JV partners inked an offtake agreement for 60,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate with two China-based buyers, and additional sales and distribution agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation for spodumene concentrate produced from the mine. Commenting on the proposed merger, Galaxy Chairman, Mr Martin Rowley said: “The arrangement struck between Galaxy and General Mining has enabled the re-commissioning of the Mt Cattlin mine, drawing on General Mining’s financial and technical resources, with Mt Cattlin now poised to deliver first production of spodumene to contracted buyers in the third quarter of calendar 2016,” Mr Rowley said. General Mining Chairman, Mr Michael Fotios said the two companies were an “excellent and natural fit”, given their existing joint venture-owned assets and complementary project development. “Both companies have successful track records of creating substantial value for shareholders and, together, we will retain this focus. Our ability to capture future growth opportunities in the rapidly evolving lithium market will be significantly enhanced by this merger,” Mr Fotios concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Boeing Aerostructures Australia celebrates 500th shipment of advanced manufacturing parts for Dreamliner 787 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has visited Boeing’s Everett factory in the United States to mark the 500th shipment of critical Dreamliner parts manufactured at Boeing’s Fisherman’s Bend plant in Victoria. Image credit: www.boeing.com.au Boeing’s Everett plant in Seattle is the largest manufacturing building in the world – and shipments of high-end Victorian aircraft components arrive there and at Boeing South Carolina. The company’s Victorian plant is the sole supplier of moveable trailing edges for the 787 Dreamliner – the most technically advanced commercial aircraft in the world. During his visit at the Everett plant, the Premier met Boeing Fabrication Vice President and General Manager Jenette Ramos and the pair discussed Boeing’s partnerships with fifty Victorian suppliers to ramp up production for the Dreamliner program, including local high-tech firms Marand and H&H. “Without the 1200 highly skilled Victorian BAA workers and the many hundreds more across the supply chain, the 787 Dreamliner simply wouldn’t get off the ground,” the Minister said. “It’s been an incredible opportunity to see Victoria‘s world class workmanship on display at Everett, the advanced manufacturing capabilities we offer to aviation is truly unique and it’s important our relationship with Boeing remains strong.” Maureen Daugherty, President of Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, said the Fishermans Bend plant is the only Boeing site in the world to apply the unique “resin infusion” system, a carbon fibre production technology that was developed in Victoria to provide significant weight and efficiency savings for the aircraft. “Boeing Aerostructures Australia is a world-class manufacturing facility located in the heart of Victoria and we’re proud of the high-tech ecosystem we’ve developed here,” Ms Daugherty said. “Out of more than 3,000 Boeing employees in Australia, approximately 1,200 of them are engaged in advanced manufacturing and research and development at Fishermans Bend, with a strong local supply chain helping us meet our critical production milestones.” Australian Manufacturing

Metro Tasmania to seek EOI from major bus manufacturers to build 100 new buses Rene Hidding, Tasmania’s Minister for Infrastructure, has announced that Metro Tasmania will be seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) this July from major bus manufacturers to build the fleet of 100 new buses. Image credit Metro Tasmania Facebook page (http://ift.tt/24fkxij) The new fleet is set to replace Tasmania’s ageing fleet of buses and the project has been dubbed “the single biggest investment in public transport in Tasmania’s history”. “This process will see bus manufacturers engaging with Tasmania’s advanced manufacturing industry with the view to having them built in Tasmania, which will provide jobs for Tasmanians while delivering on our commitment to replace the ageing fleet,” the Minister said. “This represents the single biggest investment in public transport in Tasmania’s history and highlights our commitment to providing a sustainable public transport system for Tasmanians both now and in the future.” Valued at $18 million and fully funded in the budget, the Metro Bus Initiative will see the delivery of 100 new buses to the Metro fleet over four years. This will be a great opportunity to absorb the shock wave caused by Caterpillar’s decision to cease heavy equipment manufacturing in Burnie. Australian Manufacturing

GE Oil & Gas’ new futuristic manufacturing plant in Italy will use robots and 3D printing GE Oil & Gas has invested 10 million euros in its manufacturing plant in Talamona, Italy, where the company has inaugurated its first completely automated nozzle production line and has added a new additive manufacturing line that will use laser technology to 3D print burners for gas turbine combustion chambers. Image credit: http://ift.tt/24flas8 According to the company’s press release, the plant has now been boosted with anthropomorphic robots that are capable of employing 10 different technologies, including electrical discharge machining, measurement, and laser beam welding. With this new technology, GE Oil & Gas will manufacture components that it previously procured from third-party suppliers. “The use of automated production and new techniques like additive manufacturing allow us to develop parts and products more efficiently, precisely and cost-effectively, accelerating the speed at which we can bring product to market. Our investment in these technologies at this site reflects our ongoing commitment to combine cutting edge technology and new manufacturing processes to lower cost and accelerate the innovation, speed and performance of industrial products,” said Davide Marrani, General Manager Manufacturing for business Turbomachinery Solutions at GE Oil & Gas. “Our commitment to ongoing research and innovation is key to meet our clients’ ever-changing needs.” GE has been relying on 3D printing for quite some time now, so any new investment in additive manufacturing comes as no surprise. In 2013, the company opened an additive laboratory in Florence, Italy where it installed its first Direct Metal Laser Melting (DMLM) machine. “The opportunities for the application of additive manufacturing and 3D printing in the oil and gas industry are only just starting to be explored, and it will require an ongoing rethink of component design and production approach,” said Massimiliano Cecconi, GE Oil & Gas Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Executive. “GE Oil & Gas is fostering the development of this technology to produce complex components for gas turbines, while cutting costs, boosting performance and reducing emissions.” The two new state-of-the-art production lines will become fully operational by the start of 2017, GE said. Australian Manufacturing

Rittal boosts automation in enclosure manufacture with new business unit Rittal, the largest enclosure manufacturer in the world and a leader in climate control technology, has created a new business unit – Rittal Automation Systems – that is set to take over responsibility over the product range provided by its sister company Kiesling. Provided image The new business unit will also be in charge of expanding the product line. As far as Rittal’s Automation Systems portfolio is concerned, the company offers a myriad of products, from manual tools and material handling systems to fully automated machining centres, terminal configuration/labelling machines and fully automated panel wiring systems. In a media release to Australian Manufacturing, Michael Mallia, Rittal’s Managing Director for ANZ said that Rittal Automation Systems offers a variety of automation solutions to accelerate individual manufacturing tasks. “Panel building and switchgear manufacturers are looking for ways to improve productivity. And they find them in our portfolio. For example, they can leverage the latest machining technology to increase automation in their value-creation processes,” said Mr Mallia. Provided image “By incorporating Kiesling into Rittal Automation Systems, we now provide the machining and handling technology needed for time – and cost-efficient production – not only for our own systems, but for switchgear and control systems as well. And all from a single source.” Rittal services service a wide range of industries including: LV Electrical Switchboards Food & Beverage Processing Plants Industrial Process Control Systems Mining, Oil & Gas Exploration & Processing Machine Tool & Equipment Manufacturing Computer Processing Equipment Data Centres Outdoor Signalling & Communication Systems Manufacturing Automation Systems For more detailed information, please visit the company’s website at www.rittal.com.au and http://ift.tt/1P9AVPN Australian Manufacturing

MyLEDLightingGuide unveils new high lumen LED High Bay with uplight option MyLEDLightingGuide has announced the addition of a new high powered high efficiency LED High Bay to its product line. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1FJFnQt At 142 lumens/watt, the 300W high bay is DLC Premium Listed, which makes it eligible for the highest rebate available. In addition, it is IP65 rated, produces 42,600 lumens and is backed with a 5-year warranty. According to the press release on the PR Web, smart controls such as motion sensors can easily be added. An option to add up-light is also available, redirecting 7% of the light upwards towards the ceiling. “These units are heavy duty, Massive heat sinks and great robust design ensure years of trouble free use. Further, the response to these high bays has been overwhelming. Customers love them,” said Neil Peterson, VP of Sales at MyLEDLightingGuide.com. “Guiding consumers towards more energy efficient, high in quality products, is our main goal, and we are achieving that by providing consumer a superior product when it comes to LED lighting solutions. We really just want to save some serious energy, all while creating a quicker ROI for our consumers.” Australian Manufacturing

Ergon Energy offers PPA to Mount Emerald Wind Farm Ergon Energy has offered a power purchase agreement (PPA) to Mount Emerald Wind Farm, a joint venture between Ratch Australia and Port Bajool. Image credit: Ergon Energy Retail Facebook page In September 2015, Ergon Energy released an Expression of Interest for renewable energy project developments, inviting developers to put forward their projects for consideration. The power retailer sought to purchase 150 megawatts in renewable energy generation from projects across regional Queensland. The call attracted interest from 22 different proponents, who submitted 51 proposals for projects with a total generation capacity of more than 2000 megawatts. Mount Emerald Wind farm was one of the seven projects lined up for consideration. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the PPA offer extended to the project, saying it would help the state government fulfil its election commitment to hit the 50% renewable energy target by 2030. “Under this Government’s commitment to renewable energy, the government-owned Ergon Energy undertook an expression of interest for up to 150MW of renewable energy last year,” the Premier said. “This EOI sought new renewable energy projects that could help Ergon discharge its obligations under the national Renewable Energy Target in Queensland. The opportunity was to support new renewable energy projects in Queensland that can generate renewable energy as well as jobs locally.” Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey said the offer of a PPA to Mount Emerald Wind Farm would secure 170MW of renewable energy for Queensland – 20MW more than the EOI had sought. “The project would mean wind energy in Queensland would increase by 15 times, with only 12MW of installed wind energy in our State. To put this project into further perspective, the electricity it could generate could power a city of the size of Mackay,” he said. Australian Manufacturing

ABB says Azipod propulsion system saved 700,000 tonnes of fuel to date ABB announced that its installed Azipod fleet has delivered fuel savings of approximately 700,000 tonnes since its launch, which corresponds to the annual fuel consumption of 700,000 family cars. Image credit: www.abb.com Introduced 25 years ago, Azipod® propulsion is a gearless steerable marine propulsion system where the electric drive motor is in a submerged pod outside the ship hull. The system improves vessel safety, energy efficiency, manoeuvrability and performance, reducing fuel consumption by up to 20% and achieving decimetre accurate manoeuvrability without the aid of tugboats. The system is installed on an extremely wide range of vessels, including the world’s largest cruise ship (6,600 passengers), the most advanced icebreaker, one of the largest crane vessels in Asia, a 105-meter luxury superyacht, and most recently, an innovative cargo transfer vessel. Juha Koskela, the managing director of ABB’s Marine and Ports business said the entire installed Azipod propulsion unit base has accumulated 12 million operating hours in merchant, offshore and special vessel segments. “Our engineers continue to innovate, like they did 25 years ago, to ensure Azipod propulsion meets the demands from a diverse range of ship owners,” Mr Koskela said. “Much has changed in the shipping sector since we introduced the first Azipod but the desire for efficiency, manoeuvrability and reliability remains the same. The fact that Azipod propulsion remains the dominant force in podded electric propulsion shows our commitment to meet our customer’s needs.” Australian Manufacturing

Fonterra announces forecast farmgate milk prices for next season Fonterra has announced an opening forecast farmgate milk price of $4.25 per kilogram of milk solids for the 2016/17 season, which represents an increase of 35 cents on the forecast for the current season. Image credit: fonterra.com The Co-operative – which is required under the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act to announce its forecast milk price at the beginning of each season – said its forecast took into account a range of factors including the high NZD/USD exchange rate, supply volumes from other major dairying regions, current global inventory levels and the economic outlook of major dairy importers. Chairman John Wilson said the strength of the Co-operative’s balance sheet allowed them to increase the advance rate in the first half of the new season. He also announced that the company would be bringing forward payments for this season’s milk, providing “some assistance” with on-farm cashflows. “We are doing this while remaining within our policies and maintaining our financial discipline. The New Zealand dollar is relatively high and is currently impacting milk prices and our forecasts,” Mr Wilson added. “We are expecting global dairy pricing to gradually improve over the season as farmers globally reduce production in response to ongoing low milk prices, however we continue to urge caution with on-farm budgets.” Chief executive Theo Spierings said the global demand for dairy is expected to increase “by two to three per cent a year”, mainly due to the growing world population and the increasing middle classes in Asia. “In addition to global supply growth slowing, we are seeing imports into major dairy markets improving compared to a year ago. China dairy consumption growth remains positive and its demand for imports has been steady over recent GlobalDairyTrade events,” Mr Spierings said. “We expect these drivers to result in the globally traded market rebalancing.” Australian Manufacturing

NUS scientists develop innovative method to 3D-print customised tablet that envelopes multiple medications A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered a cheap and easy way to “print” customised tablets for personalised medicine. Image credit: news.nus.edu.sg Designed by Assistant Professor Soh Siow Ling and PhD student Ms Sun Yajuan from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the NUS Faculty of Engineering, the new method of tablet fabrication could allow doctors to combine multiple medications into a single tablet which releases the different drugs at the required rate and time during the day. “For a long time, personalised tablets has been a mere concept as it was far too complex or expensive to be realised,” said Assistant Professor Soh. “This new tablet fabrication method is a game changer – it is technically simple, relatively inexpensive and versatile. It can be applied at individualised settings where physicians could produce customised pills on the spot for patients, or in mass production settings by pharmaceutical companies.” The drug tablet designed by Assistant Professor Soh and Ms Sun consists of three distinct components, including a polymer containing the drug in a specifically designed shape that will determine the rate of release of the drug. “For instance, a 5-prong shape will allow the drug to be released in five pulses over time. By adjusting the shape of the drug-containing polymer, it is thus possible to release drugs at any desired rate,” Asst Prof Soh said. He said the new tablet fabrication method would allow doctors to simply draw the desired release profile in a computer software to generate a template for making tablets specific to a patient’s treatment. The template would then be used to easily produce the desired pills using a 3D printer. “The system is easy to use and does not involve any complex mathematical computation whenever a new release profile is needed. The fully customisable system is able to create a template to print tablets for any release profile,” he added. The NUS team is currently exploring commercialisation possibilities for their novel method. Australian Manufacturing

Microsoft to exit smartphone manufacturing business Microsoft announced it will shed 1,850 jobs as part of its plan to “streamline” the smartphone hardware business, a move which was widely interpreted as the end of the company’s smartphone manufacturing adventure. Image credit: www.microsoft.com The tech giant said the move – which will result in the reduction of up to 1,350 jobs at Microsoft mobile Oy in Finland, as well as up to 500 additional jobs globally – will see the company record an impairment and restructuring charge of approximately $950 million, of which approximately $200 million will relate to severance payments. According to the company, employees working for Microsoft Oy, a separate Microsoft sales subsidiary based in Espoo, are “not in the scope for the planned reductions”. “We are focusing our phone efforts where we have differentiation — with enterprises that value security, manageability and our Continuum capability, and consumers who value the same,” said Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft. “We will continue to innovate across devices and on our cloud services across all mobile platforms.” The cuts are expected to be substantially complete by the end of the calendar year and fully completed by July 2017, the end of the company’s next fiscal year. Australian Manufacturing

Freedom Foods inks strategic partnership with leading Chinese distributor Freedom Foods Group Limited has announced a strategic partnership agreement with Pinlive Foods, one of China’s most respected and leading imported food and beverage brand distributors. Image credit: www.ffgl.com.au The two companies established their initial collaboration in 2015 for the sourcing and manufacture of high quality Premium Weidendorf UHT milk (Australian version). “The product launched successfully during the Double 11 promotional period on Tmall.com and continues to grow sales across key general trade e-commerce platforms in China,” Freedom Foods said in a media statement. “Pinlive has recognised Australia as an important source of high quality dairy and cereal products. The reducing tariffs on imported products under the China Australia Free Trade Agreement will increase Australia’s competiveness against other markets. Dairy and cereal products into China will have tariffs reducing to zero over periods of between 3 and 7 years.” Freedom Foods said the partnership agreement will expand the range of Pinlive branded food products sourced directly from an Australian manufacture. “This will include dairy and cereal products with the first of these additional products to launch in China in the 2nd half of the calendar year 2016,” reads the statement. “The agreement with Pinlive is further recognition by leading Chinese food and beverage groups of Freedom Foods’ unique sourcing, manufacturing and innovation capabilities in its expanding dairy, non-dairy and cereal and snack operations.” Australian Manufacturing

ACCC to appeal $1.7m fine imposed on Reckitt Benckiser for misleading Nurofen claims The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) will appeal a $1.7 million fine issued to Reckitt Benckiser, the maker of Nurofen, for making potentially misleading representations on its product packaging. Image credit: ACCC Twitter page Late last year the Federal Court charged the company for engaging in “misleading or deceptive conduct” by claiming that its “Nurofen Specific Pain” products were each formulated to specifically treat a particular type of pain, when this was not the case. In reality, it was proven that each product from the “Nurofen Specific Pain” range contains the same active ingredient – ibuprofen lysine 342mg – which treats a wide variety of pain conditions and is no more effective at treating the type of pain described on its packaging than any of the other Nurofen Specific Pain products. On 29 April 2016, the Federal Court ordered Reckitt Benckiser to pay penalties totalling $1.7 million. However, the ACCC said it will lodge a Notice of Appeal against the court’s decision, arguing that the issued fine does not correspond with the severity of the violation and would not deter the company from attempting to deceive consumers in the future. The consumer watchdog will demand that a “penalty of at least $6 million” be imposed on Reckitt Benckiser to send a strong deterrence message, given the longstanding and widespread nature of the conduct, and the substantial sales and profit that was made by selling the product. “The ACCC will submit to the Full Court of the Federal Court that $1.7 million in penalties imposed on a company the size of Reckitt Benckiser does not act as an adequate deterrent and might be viewed as simply a cost of doing business,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said. “This is particularly the case when the judge found that Reckitt Benckiser had made many millions in profits from sales of 5.9 million units of these products at around 8,500 outlets during the relevant period.” Australian Manufacturing

Scottish scientists plan to 3D-print brain tumours in quest for effective drug treatments A team of scientists from the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh intends to 3D-print tumour-like constructs to gain better understanding of the biology of malignant brain tumours that are responsible for the loss of approximately 5,000 lives each year in the UK. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXjby jk1991 To that end, Dr Nicholas Leslie – a tumour biologist at the University’s Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering – began working with Dr Will Shu – a renowned 3D printing expert – to carry out the pioneering work which has just been funded by The Brain Tumour Charity. The research team has already developed several types of “brain tumour in a laboratory” in order to study their behaviour and to test drugs to treat them, including taking brain tumour stem cells from patients. However, it soon became apparent that tumours grown in the lab behave very differently from the way they do in reality. Because of this, Heriot-Watt team decided to 3D-print brain tumour (glioma) stem cells and other types of cells isolated from patients’ brain tumours. The team is hopeful that by recreating tumour-like constructs they will get much closer results to human tumours and reduce the current dependence on animal testing. “We have developed a novel 3D printing technique to print brain tumour cells for the first time, cells that continue to grow rapidly, more closely mimicking the growth of these aggressive tumours in real life,” Mr Leslie said. “Our goal is that this should provide a new way of testing drugs to treat brain tumours, leading to new treatments and speeding up the process by which new drugs become available to patients.” Australian Manufacturing

XLam to build cutting edge CLT plant in Australia XLam is investing $25 in a new state-of-the art Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) manufacturing plant that will be built in the Albury Wodonga region in Australia. Image credit: www.xlam.co.nz The 12,600m2 high-tech sustainable timber facility – the first of its kind of Australia – will produce 60,000m3 of CLT each year, which is enough to construct the equivalent of one Forte Melbourne – Australia’s greenest apartment building – every week. CLT is a high tech alternative to concrete, made with sustainable plantation timber. It is manufactured in a range of thicknesses to suit floors, internal and external walls and roofs, and may be utilised as individual components or as a complete structural system encompassing all of these. XLam CEO Gary Caulfield said the company will invest $10 million in the factory and $15 million in equipment. According to him, the investment will create 30 direct and 24 indirect jobs. “For the first time Australian builders will be able to choose a CLT product that is designed and made in Australia from Australian timber, meeting a significant demand in the current market,” Mr Caulfield said. “It’ll also mean the jobs and proceeds stay in Australia, rather than going back to Europe. By building this facility in Albury Wodonga we’ll be in easy reach of Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra via the road and rail networks, and from there Australia wide. We’re eager to work with the Albury Wodonga communities to build an incredible facility, and become an asset to the region.” The plant is expected to be operational in mid-2017. Australian Manufacturing

Struggling South Australian steelmaker to be sold in July KordiaMentha, the administrators of struggling steelmaker Arrium, have announced that the company will be put up for sale in July this year. Image credit: www.arrium.com Since taking over administration of the company on 12 April, KordiaMentha have managed to stabilise the business and have now turned their attention to “future recapitalisation/sale of the Arrium Group”, which comprises of the steelworks, port and mining operation at Whyalla; its Moly-Cop business; and its OneSteel Manufacturing & Distribution segment. “The recapitalisation/sale will be conducted by way of a structured and co-ordinated process, in accordance with the Corporations Act, so as to achieve the optimal outcome for all stakeholders,” KordiaMentha said in a statement. “The Arrium Group of companies are expected to attract genuine interest from numerous credible local and international parties, many of whom have already contacted KordiaMentha to register their interest. A global investment bank will be appointed shortly to advise on the sale of Moly-Cop.” The advisory firm said it is preparing the necessary materials that interested parties will require to conduct due diligence. “These include an information memorandum, audited FY16 financial statements, FY17 budgets and comprehensive data room with relevant up-to-date information, which will be made available to qualifying interested parties,” reads the statement. “It is anticipated that the recapitalisation/sale process will commence in late July 2016 and be largely completed by the end of 2016.” Australian Manufacturing

Rio Tinto announces senior management changes. Rio Tinto has announced the appointment of Stephen McIntosh as the acting Group executive, Technology & Innovation. Mr Stephen McIntosh Image credit: www.riotinto.com Mr McIntosh – who has been with Rio into for three decades – will replace outgoing executive Greg Lilleyman, who will leave the company after 25 years of service. During his time with the company, Mr McIntosh has worked on projects in more than 45 countries spanning the A-Z of minerals and metals. Most recently, he was head of Exploration, leading a 450-strong global team of employees operating in 20 countries. Prior to this, he led Rio Tinto’s Project Generation Group for six years and transformed its activities to build a world-leading team of commodity, technical and ore body knowledge experts. Commenting on the new appointment, Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh said Mr McIntosh will join the company’s Executive Committee with immediate effect and retain the Exploration portfolio. “Stephen is a highly respected member of Rio Tinto’s senior leadership ranks and brings to his new role a breadth of experience across multiple commodities and geographies,” he added. “For a long time now, our T&I function has provided a point of strategic differentiation for Rio Tinto and Stephen will spearhead the Group’s drive for further productivity improvement across the business.” Mr Walsh also thanked Mr Lilleyman for his years of dedication and service, highlighting his immense contribution to the development of the company’s world-class Pilbara operations. “Greg has had a long career with Rio Tinto and played an important role in the development of our industry leading Mine of the Future™ programme in our Pilbara iron ore operations and has led our productivity drive. We wish him well for the future,” Mr Walsh concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Industry-Academia collaboration delivers innovative medical device to battle disease linked to deep vein thrombosis South Australian industry and Flinders University researchers joined forces to develop a new medical device aimed at saving people from a disease linked to deep vein thrombosis. Image credit: Flinders University YouTube channel Developed by Arkwright Technologies with support from the State Government’s Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) at Flinders University, the device will enable precise pressure to be applied to the lower legs of patients during surgery to promote circulation and lymphatic drainage and protect against deep vein thrombosis. South Australian Minister for Health Industries Jack Snelling said the new innovation will aim to save people from a condition known as pulmonary embolism – the fifth leading cause of death in Australia – which is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from legs, or deep vein thrombosis. “It is rewarding to see South Australian engineers working with industry on inventions that can bring real benefit to the community and create more jobs. There is huge opportunity in South Australia to leverage the knowledge from universities to build local industry capability and provide better healthcare for our State,” the Minister said. “Flinders University is leading the way with this collaborative program which offers not only R&D assistance to take products further along the development pathway, but provide opportunities for consultation with end-users and clinicians to ensure products that are developed provide real solutions for real health care problems.” Arkwright Technologies Managing Director John Arkwright the State Government’s support was pivotal to the development of the device. “Through support from the program, we have been introduced to a local surgeon who has offered to trial our device,” he added. “These kinds of connections are critical, but are often difficult to make without assistance from programs such as these.” The State Government’s Medical Technologies Program – delivered through the MDPP at Flinders University – supports early stage development of new commercially viable, high-tech medical devices through collaboration between industry, researchers, end-users and government. Pharmaceutical manufacturer, The Green Dispensary, is another participant to receive support through the Medical Technologies Program. The company’s nasal delivery device will allow a quick and safe delivery of pain relief and other medications in ambulatory, pre-hospital and emergency market, as well as in the home setting. “What we hope to achieve is a device that can deliver different strengths of nasal drug medications, removing existing requirement of using needles and syringes,” said Green Dispensary CEO Antony Condina. “If successful, this new product will generate 17 more jobs locally, as well as numerous other jobs throughout the supply chain. The support we are receiving from the MTP is very valuable. It will help to improve the device’s current design so it is cheaper to manufacture in South Australia and more effective and easy-to-use by clinicians and patients. This is important for ensuring commercial success of the product.” Australian Manufacturing

Tomcar introduces Australia’s first production electric car Australian automotive company Tomcar has teamed up with innovative electric vehicle technology developer Energetique to develop the country’s first production electric car, the Tomcar LV1. Image credit: www.tomcar.com.au Designed and built in Australia, the prototype Tomcar LV1 has already undergone two years of intense development, with trials of its electric powertrain currently underway in the harshest environments throughout Australia. According to the company, the vehicle is designed principally for the mining industry and is capable of operating reliably in some the most challenging environments for sustained periods, with little or no maintenance. Tomcar Australia’s co-founder and CEO, David Brim, pointed out that over 60% of the car’s components were Australian made. He said the vehicle’s zero emissions and ultra low running costs represented huge safety and environmental savings for the industry. “We have been working with Energetique on this project for over a year, keeping it secret while creating the world’s toughest EV to be built right here in Australia,” Mr Brim said. “The entire vehicle is being developed here, including the unique proprietary software and the powertrain system design. This vehicle is a game changer for the Australian automotive manufacturing industry, an industry that has a bright future thanks to Tomcar.” According to him, full scale production of the zero emissions Tomcar LV1 will commence in November 2016 at the Tomcar facility in Melbourne, with customer deliveries commencing February 2017. Australian Manufacturing

Airbus unveils world’s first 3D-printed motorcycle Airbus subsidiary APWorks has announced the creation of the world’s first 3D-printed electric motorcycle. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1XF1Nck Aptly named “Light Rider”, the motorcycle weighs just 35 kg, which makes it the world’s lightest motorcycle. Silent, emission-free and powerful, the Light Rider is powered by a 6 kW electric motor, accelerating the motorcycle with up to 130 Nm torques. Its frame is built out of aerospace grade aluminium called Scalmalloy, which offers the specific strength of titanium and is strong enough to handle the weight loads and stresses of everyday driving. The use of this light weight material also allowed designers to manufacture hollow frame parts which enabled them the hide most of the cables and other parts that are typically visible on regular motorcycles. “With the Light Rider we at APWorks demonstrate our vision of future urban mobility”, said engineer Stefanus Stahl. “We have used our know how of optimisation and manufacturing, to create means of transportation, that match our expectations: exceptionally strong, impressivly lightweight and of the highest quality,” said APWorks’s Niels Grafe. The company is taking orders for a limited number of 50 motorcycles, costing 50,000 Euros each. Australian Manufacturing

Austal delivers first high speed support vessel to the Royal Navy of Oman Austal Limited announced that the 72m High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) – the RNOV Al Mubshir – has been delivered to the Royal Navy of Oman on time on and within budget. The 72m High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) Rnov Al MubshirImage credit: www.austal.com The RNOV Al Mubshir is the first of two 72 metre HSSVs to be delivered to the Royal Navy of Oman under a US$124.9 million design, construct and integrated logistics support contract. The second HSSV is scheduled for delivery to the Royal Navy of Oman later this year. The HSSV is used to support naval operations, including helicopter operations, rapid deployment of military personnel and cargo, and search and rescue operations. Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the timely delivery of RNOV Al Mubshir demonstrated Austal’s international competitiveness and its capability to design, construct and export high-value defence vessels to new markets from its Australia shipyard. “The HSSV leverages our revolutionary intellectual property and technology in high speed vessels and demonstrate our proven ability as a prime defence contractor to navies across the globe,” Mr Singleton said. “Construction of the second HSSV is progressing well and on track for delivery to the Royal Navy of Oman later this year. Meanwhile, the Henderson shipyard is also busy with construction of two further Cape Class Patrol Vessels valued at $63 million, which will be deployed by the Royal Australian Navy, as well as design work for the recently awarded $305 million Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement Project. Australian Manufacturing

Wyss Institute partners with ReWalk Robotics to develop assistive exosuits for people with lower limb disabilities The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University has teamed up with ReWalk Robotics Ltd to fast-track the development of the Institute’s lightweight, wearable soft exosuit technologies for assisting people with lower limb disabilities. Image credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University Conor Walsh, Ph.D. – who is a Core Faculty Member at the Wyss Institute – said the agreement with ReWalk will accelerate the design of assistive exosuits that could help patients suffering from stroke and multiple sclerosis (MS) to regain mobility. “This is a very exciting day for the soft exosuit technology. ReWalk brings commercialisation expertise and experience in the area of wearable robotics and complements our translation-focused research. Ultimately this agreement paves the way for this technology to make its way to patients,” he said. The soft exosuit – a first of its kind soft wearable robot – was developed at the Wyss Institute through extensive prototyping that included the involvement of roboticists, mechanical and biomechanical engineers, apparel designers, and software engineers. Using form-fitting, fabric-based designs that are lightweight and non-restrictive, the Wyss Institute’s soft exosuit uses compact, powerful actuators packaged in a belt to provide assistance to the wearer’s legs in a physiologically relevant manner. These enhanced movements have the potential to assist wearers in walking with greater stability and metabolic efficiency, which could prevent injury and reduce fatigue. “There is a great need in the health care system for lightweight, lower-cost wearable exoskeleton designs to support stroke patients, individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and senior citizens who require mechanical mobility assistance,” said Larry Jasinski, CEO of ReWalk. This collaboration will help create the next generation of exoskeleton systems, making life-changing technology available to millions of consumers across a host of patient populations.” Australian Manufacturing

Ausdrill announces sale of its DTA business to Finland’s Robit Mining services company Ausdrill Limited has agreed to sell its Drilling Tools Australia (DTA) business to Robit Plc for $66 million. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1TCRB2i The company’s Managing Director Ron Sayers said the sale was in line with Ausdrill’s strategy to refocus on its core competencies. “The sale of DTA provides Ausdrill with the opportunity to crystallise considerable value on a portion of the Group’s earnings, generating a profit after tax in order of $35 million and allowing us to further pay down debt,” Mr Sayers said. Robit Plc is a Finnish manufacturer of high quality top hammer products for rock drilling and casing systems for ground drilling. The company exports its range of products to over 200 countries worldwide. “This is an exciting development in the rationalisation of our sector. As Robit is a renowned manufacturer of quality drilling products with an extensive global distribution network, they will be able to service Ausdrill’s drill consumable needs into the future,” Mr Sayers added. The transaction includes DTA’s drill manufacturing and distribution business – which generates annual revenue of approximately $35 million – but excludes the net assets of DTA’s oil and gas and spare parts business, which will be transitioned to other divisions of the Ausdrill Group. According to Mr Sayers, DTA will continue manufacturing operations at its facility in Canning Vale, WA, under a five year leasing agreement, and will also retain the services of all current employees. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our employees for their loyalty and service over many years,” he said. “We wish them and Robit every future success and we expect the relationship between DTA and Ausdrill to remain strong going forward.” Australian Manufacturing

UNSW researchers set new solar world record A team of engineers from the University of New South Wales’ Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) has developed a new solar cell configuration that has pushed sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency to 34.5%. Image credit: www.unsw.edu.au As confirmed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the result marks a new world record for unfocussed sunlight and is almost 44% better than the previous record, which reached 24% efficiency, but over a larger surface area of 800-cm2. The record was set by Dr Mark Keevers and Professor Martin Green, using a 28-cm2 four-junction mini-module – embedded in a prism – that extracts the maximum energy from sunlight by splitting the incoming rays into four bands, using a four-junction receiver to squeeze even more electricity from each beam of sunlight. The record-setting mini-module combines a silicon cell on one face of a glass prism, with a triple-junction solar cell on the other. The triple-junction cell targets discrete bands of the incoming sunlight, using a combination of three layers: indium-gallium-phosphide; indium-gallium-arsenide; and germanium. As sunlight passes through each layer, energy is extracted by each junction at its most efficient wavelength, while the unused part of the light passes through to the next layer, and so on. “This encouraging result shows that there are still advances to come in photovoltaics research to make solar cells even more efficient,” said Mr Keevers. “Extracting more energy from every beam of sunlight is critical to reducing the cost of electricity generated by solar cells as it lowers the investment needed, and delivering payback faster.” ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the “Power Cube” power tower project was supported by $1.4 million funding from the agency, demonstrating the importance of supporting early stage renewable energy technologies. Image credit: http://arena.gov.au/ “Australia already punches above its weight in solar R&D and is recognised as a world leader in solar innovation. These early stage foundations are increasingly making it possible for Australia to return solar dividends here at home and in export markets – and there’s no reason to believe the same results can’t be achieved with this record-breaking technology,” Mr Frischknecht said. “It’s great to see UNSW is working with another ARENA-supported company in Victoria – RayGen Resources – to explore how the advanced receiver could be rolled out at concentrated solar PV power plants. With the right support, Australia’s world leading R&D is well placed to translate into efficiency wins for households and businesses through the ongoing roll out of rooftop solar as well as utility-scale solar projects such as those being advanced by ARENA through its current $100 million large-scale solar round.” Australian Manufacturing

Stratasys introduces new FDM 3D printer enhancements 3D printing giant Stratasys has introduced four new enhancements to Stratasys Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM®)-based 3D printers, fully optimising select models for creating functional product prototypes, production tools and end-use parts for the most demanding manufacturing applications. Image credit: http://ift.tt/22kRYkf To make the production of complex hollow composite parts easier, the company introduced a new Sacrificial Tooling Solution comprised of its new ST-130 material and new fill patterns. Together, the new material and fill patterns provide faster dissolution, rapid build speed, better autoclave performance and greatly improved tool quality. According to Ryan Sybrant, Director, Manufacturing Marketing and Enablement at Stratasys, the new sacrificial tooling solution is available for the Fortus 450mc and 900mc 3D Printers. “Ideal for automotive, aerospace and sporting goods industries, the new ST-130 material empowers manufacturers of composite parts with an accelerated, more cost-effective option for sacrificial tooling,” Mr Sybran said. Stratasys is also introducing the Fortus 900mc Acceleration Kit which reduces production time and cost for both parts and tooling. Designed for Stratasys’ most powerful FDM 3D printer, this new kit allows very large structures to be 3D printed up to three times faster. The kit will first be compatible with ASA and ULTEM™ 1010 materials. Because aerospace engineers and manufacturers require materials with precise specifications and traceability for prototypes and end-user parts, the company has introduced Stratasys ULTEM 9085 Aerospace grade filaments which are produced according to aerospace specification requirements. “While there is no change from the standard ULTEM 9085 material, the new Aerospace designation allows for full production traceability in compliance with strict aerospace requirements. In addition to the Stratasys Certificate of Compliance, each order of ULTEM 9085 Aerospace grade filament is provided with traceability documentation and a certificate of analysis confirming batch material properties,” the company said in a media statement. “Engineers can begin prototyping sooner – avoiding lengthy time-to-market for new aerospace designs and high costs resulting from late development design changes. ULTEM 9085 Aerospace is also optimised for low-volume or custom tooling applications.” Stratasys also announced that the tough PC-ABS Material will now be available on more Stratasys 3D printers. According to the company, owners of the Fortus 380mc and 450mc 3D Printers will now have the opportunity to use the durable PC-ABS filaments for more challenging applications, such as power-tool prototyping and industrial equipment manufacturing. “We believe that these new enhancements will greatly increase the impact of Stratasys FDM 3D printing solutions, clearly demonstrating a commitment to the ongoing success of our manufacturing customers. Each new feature is designed to address specific manufacturing requirements – including speed, ease-of-use and creation of new industrial applications,” Mr Sybrant added. Australian Manufacturing

SAGE Automation to move headquarters to Tonsley SAGE Automation is relocating its national headquarters to Tonsley in a move that will provide a major boost for Australia’s first innovation district. SAGE Automation’s Facebook page The company has entered a long term lease with State Government to relocate their main operations from Melrose Park to the award-winning Main Assembly Building at Tonsley, where it will occupy 3,000 square meters on the western side of the building. Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher said SAGE Automation will add approximately 120 staff to the total number of people working and studying on the site. “SAGE Automation’s move will bring a significant South Australian company to Tonsley, adding to growing number of people working and studying on the site. The company is investing in the future of Tonsley, with approximately 120 staff to be based there,” the Minister said. “SAGE Automation is one of our biggest success stories with, and sees the collaborative benefits being co-located with other innovative businesses at Tonsley. The company’s focus on innovative industrial automation, best practice LEAN manufacturing and technology driven training aligns with the State’s vision for Tonsley as an operating environment that facilitates high value industry, collaboration, and economic development.” SAGE Managing Director Andrew Downs said the move to the new Tonsley precinct was an excellent opportunity for the company to work side by side with organisations that are driving the industrial future of South Australia. “The transformation of our local industries will rely on innovative technology, so it is an excellent fit for SAGE Automation. We share a rich history with the Tonsley site, having delivered a number of projects for Mitsubishi years ago. A walk through the site today still gives glimpses of the industrial equipment and automation which was the backbone of the Mitsubishi production line,” Mr Downs added. “The SAGE office will be located in the very same spot as the former Main Assembly Building. Our work is delivered by cross functional teams of specialists, and the new facility being built for SAGE at Tonsley, will provide us with an office layout well suited to the collaborative way in which our team work.” SAGE Automation is a privately-owned South Australian company that specialises in complex control and automation projects involving production line automation, bar code and radio frequency identification systems, the manufacture of electrical control panels, safety systems, product and batch tracking, waste reduction systems, manufacturing execution systems and robotics. Australian Manufacturing

Protean Wave Energy successfully deploys pilot WEC at Port of Bunbury Australian wave technology company Protean Wave Energy announced that it has successfully completed the initial phase of Stage One of deployment of the demonstration wave energy farm at the Port of Bunbury in WA, which consisted of deploying a pilot Wave Energy Convertor (WEC). Demonstration of singe Protean WEC at Coogee beach WAImage credit: http://ift.tt/27FMSml The company said it is currently evaluating the performance of the pilot WEC before proceeding with the deployment of additional WECs. “Two additional WECs have been fabricated and are fitted with GPS tracking and remote sensor equipment to collect performance data,” Protean told the ASX. “Performance and environmental data will be evaluated for a pre-feasibility assessment that is targeting the deployment of the Company’s first commercial pilot wave farm.” Protean Wave Energy’s proprietary WEC system is an innovative wave energy technology that is designed to convert all six degrees of wave motion into a usable form of energy. It has been developed to use compact architecture to produce power for a small, low cost, scalable design targeted at keeping the projected cost of energy down and has been designed to be cost competitive to manufacture, deploy and maintain. The company says that its future plans for the Protean WEC include the deployment of a pre-commercial wave farm prior to moving the technology into early commercialisation. Australian Manufacturing

New Ford GT supercar to ride of Aussie-made carbon fibre wheels Ford has awarded Australian wheel maker Carbon Revolution a multi-million dollar contract to supply its innovative carbon fibre wheels for the all-new Ford GT supercar. Image credit: www.carbonrev.com The car maker previously contracted the Geelong-based startup to supply its high-performance wheels to the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R. Ford said the unique properties of the carbon fibre wheels provided a “remarkable performance improvement” in both the Shelby Mustang and the all-new GT supercar. “Using cutting-edge computer modelling tools, composite structures are optimised to very precise specifications – ensuring carbon fibre wheels lead to an increase in acceleration, braking, vehicle dynamics performance and ride comfort, as well as a reduction in overall weight,” reads the joint media statement by the two companies. Ford has reportedly received more than 6000 orders for the $500,000 supercar, but will only manufacture 500 units. Both the GT supercar and the Shelby Mustang will not be available in Australia because they are only made in left-hand drive. Carbon Revolution employs a smart factory with a radio frequency identification quality tracking system. Each wheel is fitted with a radio frequency identification chip allowing it to be tracked throughout the manufacturing process and service life. This process ensures 100% part tracking, identification and verification of all material batches, processes, operators, processing data and end-of-line testing. “Wheels ready for final inspection are put through 181 additional checks and measured at 2,000 data points. Every wheel completes a three dimensional CT X-ray scan and inspection after it is coated and prepared for shipping to the assembly location for Ford Performance,” read the statement. “Every step in the quality process is tracked and logged by the radio frequency identification chip, and is highly repeatable and controllable – ensuring every wheel is set to the high original equipment manufacturer standards of Ford Performance.” Australian Manufacturing

Nike partners with HP to accelerate production of 3D printed footwear Nike has announced a partnership with Hewlett Packard (HP) to further advance its ability to manufacture 3D printed footwear. Image credit: news.nike.com The footwear specialist is no stranger to additive manufacturing. Last year, the company patented a new 3D shoe printing technology based around the strobel – the fabric or non-woven material that is stitched to the bottom of a shoe upper – and two months ago, it 3D printed prototype custom footwear for sprinter Allyson Felix. The collaboration with HP comes just a day after the multinational information technology company introduced the HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution – the first 3D printer with capabilities geared towards large-scale production. Tom Clarke, President, Nike Innovation, said the move was aimed at scaling the technology to deliver greater performance innovation faster. “At Nike we innovate for the world’s best athletes. We’ve been using 3D printing to create new performance innovations for footwear for the past several years,” Mr Clarke said. “Now we are excited to partner with HP to accelerate and scale our existing capabilities as we continue to explore new ways to manufacture performance products to help athletes reach their full potential.” Australian Manufacturing

Australian Dairy Farms Group wins high recognitions at Dairy Industry Australian Awards Australian Dairy Farms Group announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Camperdown Dairy Company (CDC), has been awarded 28 medals for its high quality dairy products by the Dairy Industry Association of Australia. Image credit: Camperdown Dairy Facebook page “CDC won 15 National medals and 13 Victorian State medals at the Dairy Industry Association of Australia’s 2016 Awards of Excellence, which were presented on 13 May 2016,” the company said in a statement to the ASX. Australian Dairy Farms said CDC won Gold medals at both state and national level plus an additional three national silver awards for its fresh milk products, as well as two national silver awards for Camperdown butter and seven silver medals for its special Camperdown yoghurts. “The Full Cream Homogenised milk produced by CDC was judged the top in its category,” reads the statement. “This milk is processed and packaged as Woolworths Farmers Own brand and sold by Woolworths strict standards.” The full list of the remaining National medals won by CDC includes: Milks Silver – Camperdown Dairy Whole Milk Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Unhomogenised Farmers Own Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Aussie Farmers No Fat Milk Butters Silver – Camperdown Dairy Salted Butter Silver – Camperdown Dairy Unsalted Butter Yoghurts Silver – Camperdown Dairy premium yoghurt – Honey Silver – Camperdown Dairy premium yoghurt – Raspberry Silver – Camperdown Dairy premium yoghurt – Passionfruit Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Vanilla 70g Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Strawberry 70g Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Mixed Berry 70g Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Vanilla 200g Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Strawberry 200g Silver – Camperdown Dairy – Mixed Berry 200g Australian Manufacturing

Smart manufacturing show hints Dandenong and Southeast Melbourne could become Australia’s largest manufacturing centre A smart manufacturing show that was held this week in Dandenong, raised hope that despite the overwhelming setbacks to the automotive and other manufacturing sectors, Melbourne’s South East could still become the largest manufacturing centre in Australia. Gary Castricum, Minister Donnellan, Gabrielle WilliamsImage provided Some of the region’s leading innovators such as Jayco, Bombardier, CSIRO, and Chisholm, as well as nearly 60 exhibitors lined the streets around the Dandenong Civic Centre during the inaugural Smart Manufacturing ’16 – Dandenong and South East Melbourne on Show. Aside from the 25 meter VLocity DMU train that flanked exhibitors, some of the other hot picks that were on show at the one-day event include a 3D printed working bicycle, the world’s smallest ultrasound machine, and emergency housing that can be deployed in a flat-pack. During his speech at the event, Committee for Dandenong Chair Gary Castricum took the opportunity to point out the biggest threat to Australian manufacturing: a “crisis of confidence”. According to him, if this issue remains unchecked, it will most certainly “curtail investment, destroy jobs and hinder ambition.” “We have to be ambitious when it comes to manufacturing. We have to champion people and growth,” Mr Castricum. “Unfortunately, our perception of manufacturing is often distorted by headlines of closure, relocation or sale. The reality is that Australian manufacturing is in many instances a success story of leadership, innovation, commercialisation and local and global expansion. As a nation, we should be encouraging, celebrating and investing in this story to help the sector truly fulfil its potential and the benefits it brings to people’s lives. “Smart Manufacturing ’16 shines a defying light on the status of Australian manufacture by presenting some of the region’s leading innovators such as Jayco, Bombardier, CSIRO, and Chisholm, as well as nearly 60 exhibitors lining the streets around the Dandenong Civic Centre,” he said. Over half of Victoria’s manufactured product come from Dandenong and Melbourne’s South East. According to the media release to Australian Manufacturing, the Committee for Dandenong and its alliance members stated that they intend to turn the region into a “magnet for investment into the Victorian economy, the centre for smart manufacturing in Australia, and a renowned centre for manufacturing excellence on an international level.” Click here for more info about Smart Manufacturing ’16 – Dandenong and South East Melbourne on Show. Australian Manufacturing

Southern Cross Ceramics to enhance its manufacturing capabilities with new digital printing equipment Ceramics tile manufacturer Southern Cross Ceramics has won a $195,247 grant to improve the manufacturing capabilities of its state-of-the-art production facility in Melbourne by acquiring new digital printing equipment. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1rUvn1l In announcing the grant on Wednesday, Victorian Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio said the funding would help create 15 new jobs and assist in transitioning 14 existing staff to new roles. “Congratulations to Southern Cross Ceramics for innovating and supporting the local workforce,” the Minister said. “This grant is about providing support for future industries and helping Victorian workers transition into stronger jobs for the future.” Southern Cross Ceramics is a specialist tile design and decoration company established in 1987. It employs 43 workers and applies innovative manufacturing processes to produce a broad range of high quality ceramic tiles. Australian Manufacturing

Seaford-based Recyclable Packaging to expand its operations and create new manufacturing jobs Recyclable Packaging, the family-owned manufacturer of biodegradable PET and polystyrene packaging, has been awarded a Labor Government grant to expand its manufacturing operations. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj by Stuart Miles The $300,000 grant was announced yesterday by Minister for Industry Lyly D’Ambrosio, who visited the Seaford-based manufacturer alongside Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny. The funding is part of a $1.5 revamp project that will see the company establish an additional manufacturing facility and purchase new machinery that will allow it to develop a new product range to complement its plastic food packaging products across Australia and New Zealand. Ms D’Ambrosio said the funding was awarded under the Andrews Labor Government’s $33 million Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT) and would help the company create up to 35 new local jobs. She said the new jobs will provide opportunities to transition retrenched automotive workers as part of the Labor Government’s $46.5 million Towards Future Industries: Victoria’s Automotive Transition Plan. “This plan will support jobs and communities in Melbourne’s north, west, south east and Geelong by making the most of our significant industry knowledge and expertise,” the Minister said. “We are supporting Victorian auto workers, businesses and affected communities by investing in companies that will provide new job opportunities and build skills for the future.” Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny congratulated Recyclable Packaging on winning the grand, saying their vision and commitment will drive new investment and jobs in the south east. ”We are investing in the south east to help businesses diversify into new markets, to help workers transition into new jobs and to help our local communities survive and grow,” she said. Australian Manufacturing

Amcor captures top honours at DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation Leading packaging solutions company Amcor has been recognised by the 28th annual DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation competition for its leadership in delivering technologically advanced and sustainable solutions for the home care and pharmaceutical industries. Image credit: www.amcor.com The company’s Rigid Plastics segment won a Diamond award in the Technological Advancement, Responsible Packaging, and Enhanced User Experience categories for the development of a 53oz polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle for Method Products which contains 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET resin. Additionally, Amcor Flexibles claimed the Gold award in the Technological Advancement and Responsible Packaging categories for Formpack® Ultra, a new cold form blister packaging for the pharmaceutical industry. The 53oz sleek, transparent custom container is the industry’s first liquid laundry bottle made of 100% PCR PET. It meets high standards for sustainability with the package’s life cycle energy consumption reduced by 78% and its carbon footprint lowered by 35% versus a virgin PET alternative. “We are delighted to be recognized by DuPont for our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” said Jim Rooney, vice president of sales for Amcor Rigid Plastics’ Diversified Products business unit. “Our primary objective is partnering with customers and creating unique solutions like this 100% PCR PET bottle which delivers major sustainability benefits for Method and reinforces its strong environmental platform.” Formpack® Ultra is a cold form blister product that offers greater elongation than standard cold form solutions, resulting in cavities than can be drawn deeper and with sharper wall angles than previously achieved. This achievement allows pharmaceutical companies to design smaller blister cards or add more cavities without increasing the blister card size. Formpack® Ultra’s superior elongation is possible thanks to “best-in-class” selection of raw materials, advanced manufacturing processes, and extensive quality control. “We are thrilled to be recognized again with a DuPont Innovation Award,” said Andrea Della Torre, R&D director for Amcor Flexibles. “Formpack® Ultra is a technical advancement and supports more responsible and sustainable packaging use across the value chain, while lowering the total cost of goods for pharmaceutical companies. This is the second award this year for Formpack® Ultra, which received an Alufoil Trophy in the Resource Efficiency category from the European Aluminum Foil Association in April.” Australian Manufacturing

PM announces $282m package for defence Prime Minister Turnbull has announced a $282 million package for shipbuilder Austal to build the country’s pacific patrol boats. Image credit: Austal ASX release “The $282 million contract was signed on May 5 with Austal for its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, to replace the existing Pacific Patrol Boat fleet and is part of Australia’s new Pacific Maritime Security Program,” Mr Turnbull said. “The contract to build and sustain 19 steel-hulled vessels will create over 120 jobs and secure Henderson as core to the re-elected Turnbull Coalition’s plan for jobs and growth.” Visiting Western Australia on Monday, the Prime Minister said a re-elected Liberal Government will use Australian steel to build the first fleet of naval vessels commissioned in Australia since 2007. “Austal will use Australian high-tensile steel to build the Pacific Patrol Boats – reinforcing our commitment to Australian built ships, by Australian workers and with Australian steel,” the Prime Minister said. “The Turnbull Government is committed to maximising Australian industry across this project and all of our naval shipbuilding projects.” Australian Manufacturing

HP unveils world’s first production-ready 3D printing system at RAPID 2016 Hewlett Packard (HP) yesterday unveiled the world’ first production-ready commercial 3D printing system at SME’s RAPID 2016, the world’s foremost additive manufacturing conference. Image credit: www8.hp.com HP said that its Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution revolutionises design, prototyping and manufacturing, and for the first time, delivers superior quality physical parts up to 10 times faster and at half the cost of current 3D print systems. “By printing functional parts for the first time at the individual voxel level (a voxel is the 3D equivalent of a 2D pixel in traditional printing), HP offers customers an unprecedented ability to transform part properties and deliver mass customisation,” the company said in a press release. Stephen Nigro, president of HP’s 3D printing business, said the HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution offers simplified workflow and reduced cost for radical prototyping, delivery of final parts manufacturing with breakthrough economics, as well as open materials and software innovation platform that lowers barriers to adoption and enables new applications across industries. “Our 3D printing platform is unique in its ability to address over 340 million voxels per second, versus one point at a time, giving our prototyping and manufacturing partners radically faster build speeds, functional parts and breakthrough economics,” Mr Nigro added. “The new HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution delivers a combination of speed, quality, and cost never seen in the industry. Businesses and manufacturers can completely rethink how they design and deliver solutions to their customers.” The company will initially launch two 3D printers; the lower-cost and lower production HP Jet Fusion 3D 3200 and the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200. HP claims that its HP Jet Fusion 3D 3200 Printer is ideal for prototyping, offering improved productivity and the capacity to grow usage at a lower cost per part, while the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200 Printer is designed for prototyping and short-run manufacturing needs, with high productivity to meet same-day demands at the lowest cost per part. The company said that the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200 Printer will be delivered in late 2016, with the HP Jet Fusion 3D 3200 Printer to be available in 2017. Australian Manufacturing

CIMIC-led consortium wins stage one Canberra light rail contract CIMIC Group companies Pacific Partnership and CPB Contractors, as part of the Canberra Metro consortium, have won the first stage of Canberra’s Capital Metro light rail project. Image credit: wImage credit: http://ift.tt/1IZRQ2z CIMIC’s role in the consortium spans sponsorship, design, construction, operations, maintenance and equity investment. The first stage of the Capital Metro project includes design and construction of a 12km light rail route from the fast growing area of Gungahlin to the city, with 13 stops, depot, road, signalling and preparation works, and the ongoing operation and maintenance of the light rail system. The Canberra Metro consortium includes John Holland, Mitsubishi Corporation, Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments, Deutsche Bahn International, CAF and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU). Under the terms of the contract, CPB Contractors will deliver the design and construction in a joint venture with John Holland, while CAF will supply and maintain the light rail vehicles. MUFG is the financial advisor with funding provided by local and international banks. CIMIC Group’s Executive Chairman and CEO Marcelino Fernández Verdes said the stage one of Capital Metro will generate revenue of approximately $300 million over the design and construction period and $300 million over the 20-year concession period. “Projects such as Canberra’s light rail, and others in the PPP pipeline, are creating demand for the CIMIC Group’s infrastructure investment expertise and major project design and construction capabilities,” he said. “Through Pacific Partnership and CPB Contractors, CIMIC generates competitive solutions, offering clients value throughout the project chain, from development to delivery and long-term asset management.” Australian Manufacturing

Chemson Pacific introduces world’s first 3D printable PVC filament Sydney-based manufacturer of PVC stabilisers, Chemson Pacific, has successfully developed a ground breaking PVC formulation for the polymer-based 3D printing market. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj by Stuart Miles Conceived, developed and tested in Australia, Chemson’s 3D Vinyl™ PVC possesses true “thermoplastic” 3D printing properties and is specifically designed for use as a 3D printing filament feedstock. “3D Vinyl™ stands to make a significant impact within the Direct Digital Manufacturing market, as its unique qualities remove the constraints formerly imposed on the majority of accessible 3D printing platforms,” the company said in a media release published on the PR Web. “The product will enable these systems to venture beyond the boundaries of rapid prototyping, allowing all users of 3DVinyl™ to develop end-use parts and products in a variety of low-run production deployments.” The 3D Vinyl filament is UV and solvent resistant, fire retardant and has low embodied energy content when compared to incumbent polymer-based filaments. It also has sustainable footprint – requiring 50% fewer fossil inputs – provides improved rigidity and is excellent for generating support structures, which are easily removed. Dennis Planner of Chemson Pacific said the benefits of 3D Vinyl for industrial 3D printing include low melting velocity, excellent flow properties and layer adhesion, heat stability and enhanced durability. “3D VinylTM is a definitive new 3D printing material that will bring a combination of physical properties not available with the current incumbent polymeric materials,” Mr Planner said. “3D Printing is currently one of the fastest growing, value-adding industries internationally and will be an important source of mentally-stimulating career paths and new business growth for the future, which I’m absolutely proud to be a part of. 3D VinylTM brings a new era for the PVC Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, here in Australia and worldwide.” He said the company has formed regional alliances with PVC industry leader Welvic, CSIRO and tertiary bodies to bring 3DVinyl™ to market for the Asia-Pacific region. According to him, the company has also forged a strategic partnership with Functionalize – the US-based leader in functional 3D printing materials – to co-develop conductive, electrostatic dissipative and other specialised formulations of 3DVinyl™, and expand its market reach in North America, Europe and beyond. “3D Vinyl provides a strong, weatherable and durable alternative for conventional ABS use cases, while simultaneously expanding the materials options for the vast market of PLA-only printers,” said Michael Toutonghi, CEO of Functionalize. “We’re excited to partner with Chemson Pacific on commercialisation and distribution of this important new material, and we look forward to functionalising it for a broad range of manufacturing and maker application.” Australian Manufacturing

Bill Shorten unveils $59m plan to create advanced manufacturing jobs Labor has committed to spend $59 million on saving manufacturing jobs in regions affected by motor vehicle production closures. Image credit: www.business.gov.au Yesterday in Geelong opposition Leader Bill Shorten unveiled a $59 million “Manufacturing Transition Boost” jobs package to ensure regions across the nation – including Geelong and Northern Adelaide – continue to have strong workforces and local jobs. “These regions face the prospect of high unemployment and social dislocation after the Liberals goaded the car industry into closing down and leaving Australia,” Mr Shorten said. “This jobs package will provide pathways to new jobs for skilled workers by attracting new business investment in advanced manufacturing. Firms will be given new incentives to diversify into new products and markets and employ automotive workers who have lost their jobs.” Mr Shorten said the end of carmaking in Australia will cripple an entire chain of 160 supply businesses involved in component manufacturing, engineering, design and tooling, resulting in 200,000 lost jobs and a gaping hole in the country’s economy. “It’s estimated that for every one automotive job, 6.5 jobs are generated in associated supply. Modelling suggests that 200,000 people will lose their jobs as a result of closures in motor vehicle production between now and 2017,” he said. “The shutdowns will rip $29 billion from the economy – about two per cent of GDP.” According to him, the “Manufacturing Transition Boost” jobs package would not only revitalise the automotive industry and save thousands of jobs, but would also maintain the stability of Australia’s economy. “Under the Manufacturing Transition Boost jobs package, funding of $10.5 million will help existing automotive businesses develop and implement plans to plug into new supply chains, bring new products to market and improve productivity. This will benefit firms across the nation including in Victoria and South Australia where the automotive industry is concentrated as well as the 16,000 automotive manufacturing jobs in NSW and Queensland,” Mr Shorten added. He said that rather than duplicate programs at the State and Federal level, a Labor Federal Government would leverage the work already done by State Governments and supplement existing state programs, both by increasing the resources these programs can draw on and by expanding their scope. ”In Victoria, Labor’s Manufacturing Transition Boost will expand the Victorian Government’s successful Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT) program. With location targeted assistance in North Melbourne, South East Melbourne, West Melbourne and Geelong, this boost will back Victorian workers as they transition to new jobs,” the opposition leader said. “In South Australia, Labor will expand the existing South Australian Government Automotive Supplier Diversification Program (ASDP) through a $15 million investment to expand the program to non-automotive manufacturing businesses in South Australia.” Australian Manufacturing

Aussie researchers develop revolutionary microscope that uses neutrally charged helium instead of light Researchers from the University of Newcastle (UON) and the University of Cambridge (UK) have successfully collaborated to create a breakthrough new microscope which opens a new window into the scientific world. Professor Paul DastoorImage credit: www.newcastle.edu.au The scanning helium microscope (SHeM) uses neutrally charged helium instead of light – which can destroy certain samples due to its electric charge – to allow delicate materials to be accurately imaged for the first time. “Delicate structures such as biological samples suffer degradation under existing microscopes, which means the very act of observation destroys or changes the properties of the samples we are trying to study – it’s quite a paradox,” said Associate Professor Paul Dastoor from the UON, who has been working the new microscope for two decades. “Helium is able to image sensitive structures with zero damage as it is chemically, electrically and magnetically inert, allowing us to now study many surfaces for the very first time,” Professor Dastoor explained. He said the technology could be commercially relevant for broad range of applications and industries, such as defence and healthcare. “Modern defence forces require new coatings and novel thin films in order to stay competitive in the age of electronic warfare,” he said. “The new instrument is an ideal tool for investigating new explosives and other high energy materials such as propellants and pyrotechnics that may become dangerously unstable if studied using existing microscopes.” According to him, the microscope will offer for the first time in mankind’s history the ability to study human samples in their true, unmasked state. “For instance, we’ve already been able to clearly see the actual structure of a membrane because the helium microscope gives detail not previously available. A traditional microscope sees straight through a membrane. We’ve been able to look at the actual structure,” Mr Dastoor explained. “The medical and pharmaceutical applications are very exciting. It will enable a new point of view for things like parasites, cell cultures and bacteria.” Professor Dastoor said the technology could also offer significant benefits for sustainability and the solar energy industry. “Under the energetic beams of traditional microscopes, many of the new solar cells suffer degradation or even wholesale destruction. The new technology allows us to observe and therefore optimise and progress solar cell technology.” “The microscope also has vital applications for the automotive industry, such as the removal of carbon monoxide from exhaust gases. Additional sustainability applications include the investigation of nanoparticles as a means to clean up toxic or even radioactive spills without harming the surrounding flora or fauna.” He said the next challenge was to build a desktop version that could be used in laboratories around the world. “A smaller version of the SHeM opens the door to a new commercial Australian technology; allowing other scientists access to its unique imaging capabilities,” Professor Dastoor concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa adds the Arcam Q20plus to its 3D printing technology portfolio Arcam announced that lightweight metals leader Alcoa has expanded its portfolio of additive manufacturing solutions to include the Arcam Q20plus, the company’s largest, fastest 3D printer. Image credit: www.arcam.com The Arcam Q20plus is designed for cost-efficient manufacturing of a wide range of aerospace-related components such as aerospace engine and industrial gas turbine components and structural airframe components. It offers the additional advantages of faster build speed and a larger build envelope for printing bigger components or enabling optimal stacking of smaller components. According to Arcam, Alcoa will leverage the printer’s larger size and high output electron beam melting technology to meet increasing demand for complex, high-performance 3D printed parts for aerospace. Magnus René, CEO of Arcam, said the technology will enable Alcoa to print parts directly from a 3D computer model by melting and fusing layers of fine metal powder with an electron beam. “Arcam is proud to support Alcoa, an innovation leader in 3D printing for aerospace, with our cutting edge 3D printing technology,” Mr René said. Arcam is a leading supplier of cost-efficient additive manufacturing solutions for production of metal components primarily for the aerospace and medical industries. Australian Manufacturing

Lithex to acquire game-changing battery technology that enables ultra fast charging Lithex Resources (LTX) has announced plans to acquire Voltape Ltd, an Israel-based company that is developing a cutting edge lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology. Image credit: www.lithex.com.au Voltape’s battery technology aims to drastically shorten recharge times for smartphones and electric vehicles to approximately 6 and 10-15 minutes respectively. According to Lithex, these batteries would be entirely free of carbon and utilise low-cost materials and a uniquely affordable patented production method. Moreover, the company’s batteries will be designed to endure between 10,000 – 15,000 charging cycles, which is approximately 20 times more than today’s batteries. If the deal goes through, Lithex Resources will change its name to UltraChrge Limited and make a number of changes to its Board of Directors, incorporating several Voltape nominees in various executive positions. Australian Manufacturing

University of Warwick students build 3D printed submarine using Stratasys Fortus 3D Printer Six engineering students at The University of Warwick have built a 3D printed submarine which is set to race at the European International Submarine Races in Gosport, UK, to be held on July 6-15. Image credit: mms.businesswire.com The students used a Stratasys Fortus 3D Printer, which allowed them to produce the final manufactured parts 90% faster than using conventional methods, while saving £2000-£3,000 in costs. According to Josh Dobson, Project Leader of the Warwick Submarine team, the “Godiva 2” submarine features numerous 3D printed parts designed to withstand the harsh ocean environment, including the fins, feet, propeller, interior steering components and many other fixings. He said the use of Stratasys’ Fortus 3D Printer has been integral to building the submarine in time for the race, as well as keeping costs within the university’s tight budget. “Our extensive use of 3D printing remains one of our strengths. Our Stratasys Fortus 3D Printer is very much at the heart of our design and manufacturing process, providing significant benefits that simply could not be achieved via traditional methods,” Mr Dobson said. “Using this technology, we were able to 3D print final parts for the submarine 90% faster than using conventional manufacturing and also saved £2,000-£3,000 in manufacturing costs. These are parts that can perform in the harshest waters, which is incredible given the speed and cost at which they can be produced.” The project is part of an academic challenge that asks final year Masters engineering students to build and race a human-powered submarine at the annual European International Submarine Races. It involves designing and manufacturing the submarine, which the students perform under the supervision of WMG’s Dr Ian Tuersley and in their pit area within WMG’s Engineering Hall. Dobson said that in creating the “most 3D printed vessel on the grid”, the team used Stratasys’ advanced ABS-M30 material – ideal for end-use environments due to its strength, functionality and ability to perform under complex shapes. “The material development over the last few years at Stratasys has been integral to the evolution of 3D printing from beyond solely a prototyping tool right through to where we are today; 3D printing parts for direct use on our submarine. All the parts were produced from ABS-M30, apart from the propeller blades which were 3D printed by Stratasys in the USA,” he said. “Having access to this technology gives us the flexibility to produce extremely complex and multi-functional parts cost-effectively and on-demand. For example, our fixing feet are an incredibly complex piece of geometry and have been 3D printed to perfectly fit the hull at virtually no additional cost, yet remain as functional and strong as a traditionally manufactured part. In addition, by creating the part using 3D printing, we’ve reduced material wastage by about 75% compared to machining the part traditionally from a solid piece of metal, which bodes well for a future of more sustainable manufacturing.” Sig Behrens, General Manager, Global Education at Stratasys, congratulated the team on their remarkable achievement. “The Warwick Submarine team is a credit to their university which exemplifies the exciting future of British engineering,” he said. “We are seeing rapid growth in the number of applications that disrupt traditional manufacturing processes to increase speed and reduce costs leveraging our Fortus line for final part production. It’s an exciting future – and for the engineers of tomorrow – it is critical that they learn this technology now as much as possible, as the demand for 3D printing design skills becoming increasingly common.” Australian Manufacturing

Clever cloud tracker that maximises solar PV use enters the market Fulcrum 3D has sold its first CloudCAM cloud tracking systems to utility-scale solar customers, following a pilot project supported by $569,200 ARENA funding. Image credit: arena.gov.au This advanced cloud tracking system combines fit-for-purpose camera hardware with specialised algorithms to predict the changes in energy output of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. By predicting solar PV output, the technology tells operators to switch diesel generators on before production drops, smoothing energy delivery and potentially allowing more solar to be used. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the technology not only reduces the cost of power and the need for battery storage, but also enables increased solar energy yield. “Fulcrum3D’s CloudCAM solution uses ground mounted cameras to track cloud movements. The advanced technology can even track clouds that are layered at different altitudes and moving at different speeds,” he said. “There is potential for this technology to be combined with the next wave of solar PV plants built in Australia, including those seeking funding through ARENA’s $100 million large-scale solar competitive funding round.” Fulcrum3D Technical Director Colin Bonner said the company was delighted to be working with several developers and operators of remote, hybrid PV power stations across Australia to integrate CloudCAM. “Three new commercial solar sites across Australia have purchased CloudCAMs in the last month, including two Epuron sites. The two Epuron sites at Ti-Tree and Kalkarindji in the Northern Territory are the first high penetration PV power stations in Australia to use cloud forecasting to smooth solar power output. CloudCAM has been successfully integrated into the control systems at the two power stations, enabling autonomous operation,” Mr Bonner said. “In addition to increasing revenue, the integration of CloudCAM at the Ti Tree site has seen a significantly lower demand for energy from its storage system, reducing cycling of the batteries and increasing battery life. We have also begun trials on advanced sensors, with ARENA’s support, which aim to increase CloudCAM’s predictive capability in utility-scale solar power stations with large geographical footprints.” Fulcrum3D was established in 2011 by Fulcrum Energy and its partner Orang-utan Engineering to develop, manufacture, market and support remote sensing equipment for solar and wind energy applications. In addition to CloudCAM, the Fulcrum3D product range includes wind monitoring with the compact-beam Sodar as well as solar resource and weather monitoring. Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa announces new executive appointments Lightweight metals leader Alcoa has announced the appointment of Group President of Transportation and Construction Solutions (TCS), Mr Karl Tragl to the position of Group President of Engineered Products and Solutions (EPS), effective 16 May. Image credit: www.alcoa.com Mr Traql will succeed current EPS Olivier Jarrault, who will leave the company after working with Tragl to ensure a smooth transition. Prior to joining Alcoa in February, Tragl was CEO of Bosch Rexroth, a $6 billion automation solutions company with 31,000 employees in 80 countries. During his six-year sting with Bosch Rexroth, Mr Tragl delivered sustainable profitable growth through innovation and significant operational improvements, while optimising the portfolio through key acquisitions and divestitures. Mr Tragl’s career portfolio also includes working relationship with global technology giant Siemens, where he held the position of Business Unit President in the Automation Drives Group. He holds a degree in physics from Friedrich-Alexander University, in Germany, and was awarded a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern, in Germany. “Karl is the ideal leader to drive the future profitable growth of EPS,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “He is an execution-focused leader with a deep technology and engineering background and a strong track record of operational and financial success. Karl is the right executive for this pivotal role as we launch Arconic in the second half of 2016.” Mr Kleinfeld also thanked Jarrault for his 14 years of service to Alcoa. “Olivier’s focus on operational excellence and productivity successfully increased the profitability of Alcoa’s downstream businesses.” he said. “He has played an important role in the transformation of EPS into an aerospace solutions leader.” Australian Manufacturing

AMWU: Navantia contract could “sink” 640 shipbuilding jobs in Adelaide The Turnbull Government’s announcement that Spanish shipbuilder Navantia will construct Australia’s two supply ships has provoked a storm of criticism from the AMWU, which described the move as “a spectacular act of betrayal” of the country’s shipbuilders. Image credit: www.amwu.org.au AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian said the move to outsource the contract to Spain directly endangered more than 600 jobs at ASC’s shipyard in Adelaide as the shipbuilder faces a major gap in workflow before new work on patrol vessels and frigates begins. “This is a spectacular act of betrayal of our Australian shipbuilders who are facing further job losses while Prime Minister Turnbull sends their jobs offshore. What’s worse is the Government has been talking up its commitment to Australian shipbuilding by instigating a continuous build program for new frigates and Offshore Patrol Vessels, plus announcing an Australian build for submarines, at the same time it was quietly exporting Australian jobs to Spain,” Mr Bastian said. “These supply ships could have filled that gap and given the industry and shipbuilding workers the certainty they need, plus allowing ASC in Adelaide to maintain essential shipbuilding skills. Instead we have Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition saying they support Australian shipbuilding but doing the exact opposite, signing the contract with the Spanish only yesterday, and without even a media release to mark the occasion.” He said Mr Turnbull’s failure to stand up for Australian shipbuilding jobs was “conclusive proof” that the Prime Minister is running Tony Abbott’s policies for preventing Australian shipyards from tendering for the supply ships. “Malcolm Turnbull has shown his real colours by this decision,” Mr Bastian said. “This is a shameful decision from a Prime Minister who doesn’t care about the jobs of Australian workers. The only job he cares about is his own.” Australian Manufacturing

ExxonMobil Australia announces multi-million dollar investment in Altona Refinery ExxonMobil Australia’s subsidiary Mobil Refining Australia (Mobil) has announced plans to expand Altona refinery’s capacity utilising locally produced crude to meet the region’s growing demand for refined products. Altona RefineryImage credit: corporate.exxonmobil.com The Altona refinery is one of Victoria’s key refinery plants, employing around 350 of the company’s 1,750 Victorian employees and processing up to 13 million litres of crude oil daily into petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, LPG and bitumen. Richard Owen, chair of ExxonMobil Australia, said the project will upgrade part of an existing crude unit to add a pre-distillation step in Altona refinery’s process that will increase the production of diesel and jet fuel. “ExxonMobil Australia is focused on making strategic investments to improve our competitive position and optimise our integrated oil and gas business to support continued supply of high-quality, locally produced fuel products to Victorian businesses and households,” Mr Owen said. The announcement was made at an event attended by Victorian Minister for Industry; Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, who endorsed the project as a vote of confidence for business investment in Victoria and the state’s AAA economy rating. “This investment in the Altona plant is another vote of confidence for Victoria’s reputation as a hub for business investment and our strong AAA-rated economy,” the Minister said. “Improvements in infrastructure and energy efficiency will further drive the plant’s economic benefits and contributions to the state, which is great news for Victorian jobs and workers.” The new investment will enable the refinery to increase overall production from 80,000 to 90,000 barrels per day and enhance energy efficiency and environmental performance through the recovery of an additional three megawatts of waste heat. Andrew Warrell, Mobil’s manager of refining for Australia and New Zealand said the company has invested more than AU$370 million in maintenance and other improvements at Altona refinery during the last five years. “We continuously evaluate new opportunities to meet market demands and to enhance the competitiveness of the Altona refinery,” Mr Warrell added. “Our enduring success for nearly 70 years is due to a number of factors, including a highly-skilled workforce and our position relative to local markets.” This is the second major investment ExxonMobil has announced this year in its Victorian operations. In February at Rosedale, the company commenced construction of its 400 million Longford pipeline replacement project which will transport crude oil and condensate between Esso Australia’s Longford and Long Island Point facilities in Victoria. Project construction will commence in May 2016 and is expected to be completed in 2017. Australian Manufacturing

Amcor acquires Plastic Moulders Limited, a leading manufacturer of custom precision moulding Australian-based multinational packaging company Amcor has announced the acquisition of Plastic Moulders Limited, a rigid plastics business that manufactures containers and closures for the food and personal care markets in North America. Image credit: Amcor webpage Plastic Moulders, which operates a single plant in Toronto, has established relationships with a number of large multinational customers and has sales of approximately CAD 35 million. The company brings new technologies including injection moulding and in-mould labelling, which involves embedding the label in the container wall at the same time the container is extruded, thus removing the need for any secondary processes to adhere a label to the container. Amcor CEO and Managing Director, Ron Delia, said the CAD 38 million acquisition will generate considerable synergies in terms of procurement, manufacturing costs and overhead. “The Amcor Rigid Plastics business has significant growth opportunities in market segments outside of the traditional non-alcoholic beverage markets. Our strategy to grow this business includes acquiring companies like Plastic Moulders that provide specialised manufacturing capabilities, which will enable Amcor to broaden our product offering for the benefit of current and future customers,” Mr Delia said. “Total sales into these markets are approximately $500 million inclusive of Plastic Moulders sales, and there are significant opportunities to build on this position with organic growth and further acquisitions. We welcome Plastic Moulders to the Amcor portfolio and are confident that this acquisition will generate strong returns for shareholders.” Australian Manufacturing

Developing new Magnetite Strategy to secure $10bn in investment in SA Resource industry leaders attended a workshop yesterday to develop the South Australian Government’s Magnetite Strategy, which will aim to secure $10 billion worth of committed investment in iron ore mining projects. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj by dan The proposed Strategy seeks to identify initiatives that can maximise the economic benefits of the State’s vast magnetite deposits. South Australia Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Tom Koutsantoni said the Magnetite Strategy Workshop – which was hosted by the Department of State Development at the Adelaide Convention Centre – marks the start of the process of identifying opportunities for growth in the sector. He said securing the targeted investment within the next five years would represent a major step toward reaching the target of 50 million tonnes of iron ore exports a year by 2030. “South Australia is blessed with vast magnetite deposits and the aim of this strategy is to leverage that natural endowment and transform it into investment, jobs and exports. If we can capitalise on these deposits and increase the amount of iron ore we export there will also be significant opportunities for growth and jobs in the supply chain around this industry,” the Minister said. “We can’t drag our feet – South Australia needs to plan now so we can capitalise quickly when the inevitable upswing in the commodities cycle happens. South Australia is already recognised as a world-class exporter of copper and we want to see the state also gain a reputation as a source of high-quality magnetite.” According to the Minister, positioning South Australia in the global marketplace as a secure and trusted supplier of quality magnetite product is key to the success of the Strategy. “This strategy will help grow the mineral resources sector and provide jobs and growth in South Australia’s regional and remote communities,” Mr Koutsantoni added. “The long-term Magnetite Strategy also seeks to establish South Australia as the foremost global source of quality magnetite product for steelmaking.” South Australia’s magnetite is a naturally occurring high-grade iron oxide with low levels of impurities that greatly increases the efficiency of blast furnaces. The state currently produces about 1.6 million tonnes a year of magnetite from the Middleback Ranges that is fed exclusively into the steelworks at Whyalla. Extensive magnetite resources have been identified in the Eyre Peninsula and Braemar Province that could dramatically increase the volume of exports from South Australia. Australian Manufacturing

National Manufacturing Week 2016 opens in Sydney National Manufacturing Week (NMW), Australia’s largest showcase of manufacturing innovation, information & inspiration, opened yesterday in Sydney, bringing industry together to see, touch and discuss manufacturing industry solutions. Image credit: NMW Facebook page This year’s event co-locates with the Inside 3D printing Conference and Expo – an event that showcases game-changing 3D printing technologies – as well as with the Safety First Conference and Expo, the country’s first one-stop safety event. NMW 2016 will showcase hundreds of products and services from around the world, laid out in 12 Product Zones focusing on innovative capabilities in Welding Technology, Automation & Robotics, Intralogistics, Advanced Materials and more. Welding Technology Zone – traditionally one of the most-visited areas of NMW – will showcase new offerings from industry leaders including Ensitech, Innovative Welding, Goodwill Precision Machinery, Kemppi, Weldbrush and more. The event will also host live demonstrations of new technologies, giving attendees a real-world insight into how they might help your business move ahead. Highlights of the demonstration program will include Kemppi’s demonstration of their new Pulse Mig welding package, which will be monitored for performance on Kemppi’s KAS3 online welding management system. Australian company Ensitech will also participate in the demonstration schedule, showcasing its easy-to-use and portable TIG Brush® Stainless Steel Weld Cleaning System. “A process that you have to see to believe.” says Ensitech’s Managing Director, Clive White. “The ‘TIG Brush Effect’ is the wide-eyed look of disbelief that people get when they see, for the first time, the TIG Brush’s superior weld cleaning and passivation capabilities. We hope you’ll join us for our demonstration at NMW – and get the ‘TIG Brush Effect’ for yourself!” In addition to the impressive demonstration program, NMW will also showcase a powerful seminar series, in which industry leaders will share new ideas and opportunities. “Among high profile speakers will be Dr Keith McLean, CSIRO’s Manufacturing Flagship Director who will outline some of the ways in which 400 Australian manufacturers are leveraging the national science agency’s research to help them target high value niche markets,” the NWM said in a media release. “There will be a clear focus on reducing operational waste, with speakers including Peter Meakin from the Opie Manufacturing Group sharing strategies for streamlining production, transport and even innovation processes, to free up time and/or resources for new programs.” The event is taking place at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park and closes on 13 May. Australian Manufacturing

The future of automation is now: Volvo Group set to demonstrate unique self-driving truck The Volvo Group is set to showcase its self-driving truck for a broader audience for the first time ever. Image credit: news.volvogroup.com The truck is part of a joint R&D project between Volvo Group and Saab’s wholly owned technology consulting company Combitech. The project aims to develop a fully autonomous transport system solution that will create greater business advantages for customers, mainly in the mining industry. This unique truck is a fully fitted out construction vehicle which navigates and operates entirely autonomously both above and underground. It uses GPS technology to continuously read its surroundings and is also equipped with sensors that enable it to navigate around fixed and movable obstacles while gathering data via its transport system in order to further optimise its route and traffic safety. According to Volvo, the truck requires no manual supervision, but rather is part of the customer’s total transport solution that controls the entire production process. “The Volvo Group has been conducting research into autonomous vehicles for several years and we are delighted to have already developed a solution that we believe will ultimately revolutionise the mining industry,” said Torbjörn Holmström, member of Volvo’s Group Executive Board and Chief Technology Officer. “We expect to be able to significantly increase our customers’ productivity while at the same time improving fuel efficiency and safety.” The truck developed by the Volvo Group is one of several research projects being carried out to develop and test various aspects of autonomous solutions. Last year, the Swedish carmaker launched driverless car trials in Australia, which will be followed up with autonomous driving trials in the UK next year. Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo said the aim of these projects was to create sustainable transport solutions and improve traffic safety, which benefits both the customer and society as a whole. “Automation is an exciting field of technology where advances are moving quickly. Solutions already exist and we expect to see more autonomous solutions in the future,” Mr Lundstedt said. “But our customers are already benefiting from this technology today since we apply the same principles to our active safety systems.” Australian Manufacturing

Austal USA celebrates christening of US Navy’s 14th littoral combat ship Global defence contractor Austal has celebrated the christening of US Navy’s 14th littoral combat ship (LCS) – the future USS Manchester – at an official ceremony attended by ship sponsor US Senator Jeanne Shaheen and a number of distinguished guests. Image credit: www.austal.com Manchester (LCS 14) is the fifth LCS in Austal’s 11-ship contract valued at approximately $3.5 billion. With its shallow draft of 14 feet, the Austal-built Independence-variant LCS is an advanced high-speed and agile 419-foot aluminium trimaran combat ship that combines superior seakeeping, endurance and speed with the volume and payload capacity needed to support emerging missions. “On behalf of Austal USA’s shipbuilding team, one of the most talented that I’ve ever worked with, we are proud to provide our sailors with an amazing warship that will honour the great city of Manchester as she defends our nation,” said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. “We’re equally excited to share this celebration with an amazing patriot in Senator Shaheen who has served in her role as both Governor and Senator, and now gives her spirit as the sponsor to this awesome ship.” Scheduled for launch in mid-May, the future USS Manchester (LCS 14) has a maximum speed of more than 40 knots, a voluminous 28,000 sf mission bay, and a flight deck capable of simultaneously holding two H-60 helicopters. To date, Austal has delivered three ships from its LCS program, with seven other ships currently under construction. According to the company, Montgomery (LCS 8) conducted acceptance trials late last week, whereas Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) and Omaha (LCS 12) are preparing for trials. Austal said final assembly is well underway on Tulsa (LCS 16) and modules for Charleston (LCS 18) and Cincinnati (LCS 20) are under construction in the company’s Module Manufacturing Facility. Austal has also been awarded a $1.6 billion block-buy contract by the US Navy to build 10 Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF), six of which have already been delivered. Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems signs MTU diesel genset supply contract with Rolls-Royce BAE Systems has awarded Rolls-Royce an equipment contract to manufacture diesel generators for the first three Type 26 anti-submarine warfare ships for the Royal Navy. Image credit: www.baesystems.com BAE said the deal marks the first Type 26 manufacturing contract to be agreed since the UK Ministry of Defence announced a £472 million contract extension in March 2016 to progress the Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme. According to the press release by BAE Systems, each Type 26 ship will require four of the MTU diesel generators based on 20-cylinder MTU Series 4000 engines, which will provide a low-emission solution to the ships’ electrical supply and slow speed propulsion. Each generator set will deliver approximately 3 MW of generated power, enough to power around 6,000 homes. “This is another great step forward for the programme. We are seeing real momentum, with manufacturing contracts awarded to seven supply chain partners for key equipment for the first three ships, and I look forward to continuing to work with the team at Rolls-Royce as we move forward,” said Geoff Searle, Type 26 Programme Director at BAE Systems. “We are working closely with partners across our supply chain in the UK, Europe and further afield. We are pushing forward innovation in the way we design and manufacture warships, harnessing new technologies and processes to make sure we can deliver cutting-edge solutions to meet the Royal Navy’s requirements.” Knut Müller, head of MTU’s governmental business, said the deal means that the core components of the frigate’s combined propulsion system will come from Rolls-Royce: four MTU diesel gensets with 20V 4000 M53B engines, each delivering 3,015 kW of mechanical power, and one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine. The MTU brand is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “The fact that we’re involved with our diesel gensets in this leading-edge project by the Royal Navy fills us with great pride and demonstrates the precision with which Rolls-Royce is able to meet customer requirements,” Mr Müller said. “One key reason for winning this order is MTU’s wealth of experience of combined propulsion systems.” The Type 26 Global Combat Ship is the first newly-designed Royal Navy surface vessel to be equipped with MTU engines, as well as the first time Rolls-Royce has supplied a naval vessel with an MTU propulsion system that meets the requirements of the IMO III emissions directive. Australian Manufacturing

Spain’s Navantia to build Australia’s replacement replenishment vessels The Australian Government has signed contracts with the Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company Navantia S.A. to build Australia’s two replacement replenishment ships. HMAS Success Image credit: www.navy.gov.au The Department of Defence Ministers said the contract award was a matter of priority that will help Australia avoid a critical capability gap as the country’s current supply ship HMAS Success approaches its end of life in 2021. The contract is valued at $640 million, of which $130 millions are expected to go to Australian industry for the manufacture and integration of Combat and Communication Systems, Integrated Logistics Support, and elements of the onboard cranes. In addition to the contract for building the two replacement replenishment ships, the Government also awarded Navantia an initial $250, five-year sustainment contract to be undertaken in Australia. “Australian shipyards simply do not have the capacity to complete the replenishment vessels in the required time and a local build would delay the OPVs, Future Frigates and Future Submarines thereby risking those jobs and capability,” the Department of Defence Minister said in a media statement. Australian Manufacturing

Toyota Australia appoints new Vice President Toyota Australia has announced the appointment of Matt Callachor as its Vice President, responsible for overseeing the company’s non-manufacturing operating arms which include Sales and Marketing, Product Planning and Development, Corporate Services and Finance. Mr Matt Callachor Image credit: www.toyota.com.au Mr Callachor – who has been with Toyota for almost 35 years – is currently working at Lexus International as General Manager in Planning as part of a three year intra company transfer. Prior to his transfer to Lexus, Mr Callachor was the Executive Director of Sales and Marketing at Toyota Australia, a position that he held from January 2010 to May 2013. The new position will see Mr Callachor report directly to President Dave Buttner, while the four Directors responsible for the company’s non-manufacturing operating arms will report to Matt. According to the press release by Toyota Australia, the restructure will allow Chairman Max Yasuda and President Dave Buttner to focus on strategic matters and long term planning, while Mr Callachor will focus on the day to day operations of his responsible areas. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Callachor said: “It brings me great excitement to return to Toyota Australia in the role of Vice President. The company is in the midst of its biggest transformation and it is important that we not only make this the most respectful employee transition, but also that we ensure any changes are as seamless as possible for our guests,” he said. “My main focus will be on ensuring that we continue to deliver great products and services to our guests and create those “oh what a feeling!” moments every day.” Mr Callachor’s appointment will take effect on f 1 June 2016 and he will be based at CHQ in Port Melbourne, Victoria. Australian Manufacturing

Talga commences further testing of its graphite material in Li-ion batteries Advanced materials company Talga Resources has provided an update on testing of its graphite material in lithium ion batteries. Image credit: Talga Resources ASX release “Following significant positive results from battery test-work at German institutes, a new program has commenced at the University of Warwick Energy Innovation Centre in the UK,” the company told the ASX. “The EIC program differs from previous and concurrent German testing in that the work is at industrial rather than laboratory scale.” The company said that in the new program, Li-ion “coin cell” batteries using Talga material have been produced by methods that can be scaled up for the future continuous roll to roll anode preparation. “Fabrication of the battery anodes was successful and performance testing has commenced over what will be up to 1,000 charge-discharge cycles (compared to the previous 100 cycles),” reads the statement. “The Talga material being used in the test batteries is produced from its pilot test facility in Germany using a patent pending process that saves expensive milling and micronising steps common to current Li-ion battery anode manufacture.” Talga also announced that further tests are planned to include production of larger “pouch” batteries and trials of multiple chemistries currently used in the global Li-ion battery industry. The company said that comprehensive data will be released to the market as it is compiled and interpreted post testing, expected over the next two months. Australian Manufacturing

Victorian Government greenlights transfer of gold mining and exploration licenses in Bendigo The Victorian Government has sanctioned the transfer of mining and exploration licenses in Bendigo from Unity Mining to Kralcopic Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Bendigo-based company GBM Gold. Image credit: www.gbmgold.com.au According to the Minister, the transfer is conditioned on GBM rehabilitating the two largest ponds at the Woodvale within two years and sending only treated water to the site for use in dust suppression. “It’s important the community has confidence that the Woodvale Ponds will be rehabilitated as part of this licence transfer,” she said, adding that the move will create 15 new jobs as the company expands its operations in Bendigo. “This is a great outcome for local jobs, the environment and for the health and wellbeing of the community.” Ms Ambrosio said the new operator has passed the fit-and-proper person test, meets financial stability standard to carry out the currently licensed mining activity and to pay the site’s assessed rehabilitation bond, as required under the Mineral Resources Act 1990. GBM Gold said it intends to reprocess the contents of the mine’s sand and tailings waste to extract further gold that would otherwise be lost to mining by-product. “Reprocessing the tailings also helps with the progressive environmental rehabilitation of the mine site. The rehabilitation works required as part of the licence transfer applies to ponds six and seven at the Woodvale site,” the company stated. “The two ponds cover around 80 hectares, which is about two-thirds of the entire evaporation ponds area. GBM Gold will engage with the local community as it develops its work plan and Earth Resources Regulation, the mining regulator, will discuss site rehabilitation issues with the local community.” Ms Ambrosio said the work of the mining regulator in assessing the licence transfers has been reviewed by independent financial consultants Price Waterhouse Coopers. “The rehabilitation bond was also independently reviewed earlier this year by an EPA accredited auditor from environmental consultants AECOM, and increased to $5.948 million,” she added. Australian Manufacturing

Australian technology at the heart of the world’s largest telescope CSIRO-developed technology will form the core of one of the world’s biggest ever science projects following an agreement with China’s leading astronomical research organisation. Image credit: www.csiro.au The CSIRO has teamed up with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) to assist in the development of the largest single dish telescope in the world – the Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). With a diameter of 500 metres, FAST will not only dwarf the current largest single-dish telescope – the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico – but it will also be able to receive weaker and more distant radio signals, helping to explore the nature, origins and evolution of the universe. CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshal said Australia’s national science organisation was tasked with designing and building the telescope’s 19-beam receiver, which is a key component of the system. “Global collaboration is an integral part of CSIRO’s Strategy 2020, as it maps out our desire to deliver science, technology and innovation to new customers and markets, while also delivering benefit back to Australia,” Dr Marshall said. “This is a really exciting project and builds on 40 years of CSIRO collaboration with Chinese industry and research organisations.” He said that unlike most radio telescope receivers, which only allow for one piece of sky to be seen at a time, the CSIRO designed receivers feature many separate, simultaneous beams, making it practical for FAST to search a large portion of the sky for faint and hidden galaxies. “The powerful receiver we’ve created for FAST is the result of our long history developing cutting-edge astronomy technology to receive and amplify radio waves from space,” Acting Director CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, Dr Douglas Bock said. “Extending our technology and collaboration to China and working on what will become the world’s largest radio telescope really cements our position as a global R&D leader in this space.” Professor Rendong Nan from NAOC said the state-of-the-art instrument would enable astronomers to greatly expand their knowledge of the universe. “FAST will make it possible for us to look for a range of extremely interesting and exotic objects, like detecting thousands of new pulsars in our galaxy, and possibly the first radio pulsar in other galaxies,” he said. Australian Manufacturing

Stratasys 3D printed dresses featured at “Manus x Machina” exhibition in New York Stratasys announced that two of its 3D printed pieces, which are incorporated into dresses by designer Noa Raviv, are featured in “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology,” a new exhibition that opened last week at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York. Image credit: investors.stratasys.com The exhibition, which is curated by Andrew Bolton, explores the dichotomy between hand-made and machine-made fashion and highlights 3D printed designs from talented designer Noa Raviv’s “Hard Copy” collection, produced using advanced, multi-material 3D printing technology from Stratasys. Mr Bolton said the exhibition aims to break down stereotypes about hand-made and machine-made garments and shows that both can be luxurious pieces of art. “While traditionally assumptions link time-intensive delicate designs to hand-made fashion, technology has caught up and developed so much that nowadays, machine-made clothes are every bit as complex and delicate as handcrafted designs,” he said. “Combining the hand-crafted and machine-made, older designs and contemporary garments, haute-couture and ready-to-wear, the “Manus x Machina” exhibition enables visitors to look at fashion as art, without interference or barriers between the observer and the fashion pieces themselves.” The dresses feature a series of 3D printed black-and-white pieces, enabled by Stratasys multi-material 3D printing technology and hand-sewn on ruffled fabrics and grid-like patterns. Stratasys said these voluminous shapes were produced on its Objet500 Connex3 Colour Multi-material 3D Printer, allowing Raviv to realise her vision of non-symmetrical distorted grid patterns and shapes. “The technological capabilities of 3D printing open new doors to areas of design previously not possible with hand-crafted fashion,” Raviv said. “Through my collection I’ve been able to explore the tension between the real and the virtual, between 2D and 3D, and this inspired me to create imperfect digital images and distorted grid patterns that are impossible to produce using conventional methods.” Naomi Kaempfer, Creative Director, Art Fashion Design, Stratasys, said the company was “very excited” to be part of “Manus x Machina” through its collaboration with Noa Raviv. “The exhibition explores the contrast between hand-crafted and machine-made design, which fits very much within our objectives of showcasing the design freedom that can be achieved using 3D printing technology,” Ms Kaempfer said. “Noa’s work is a prime example of how aspiring designers turn some of the most challenging design concepts into reality.” Australian Manufacturing

LBT Innovations names new CEO Australian developer of clinical and diagnostic technology LBT Innovations announced that Senior Cochlear Limited executive, Mr Brent Barnes, has been appointed as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1lgCb2s Mr Barnes will commence his new role as CEO of LBT Innovations on 8 August, replacing company-co-founder Mrs Luisa Guthrie who had been at the helm of LBT since its establishment in 2004. “Brent offers a rare blend of youth, energy and global business experience. He is ideal choice to lead our firm into an exciting future where LBT’s advanced digital imaging technologies will increasingly deliver major efficiencies for busy laboratories and faster, more accurate results for doctors and patients,” said Mr Robert Finder, Chair of LBT innovations. According to the company, Mrs Guthrie will continue to actively lead LBT for the remainder of her tenure and will continue in a consulting role to assist transitional arrangements for the new CEO. In the short term, she will focus on the work of LBT’s JV for APAS® (Clever Culture Systems AG), finding new commercialisation partners for MicroStreak® and progressing the development of Woundvue®. “I am pleased to be leaving LBT in good health; successful, innovative and dynamic. With a high performing team and a pipeline of innovative technology products, LBT is poised for a robust future under Brent’s leadership. I look forward to watching Brent take the company to the next level,” Mrs Guthrie said. Mr Barnes, who holds a Masters Degree in Project Management from the University of Adelaide and a Diploma of Commerce for the Sydney Institute of Business Technology, has begun his working life with defence contractor Thales. He has spent the past 11 years in a variety of roles with Australian medical device manufacturer Cochlear, including as Area Sales Manager (South Texas) and Director of Operations (Americas). Upon his return from the USA, he was appointed Director, Recipient Services & Operations (Asia-Pacific) and General Manager, Asia Growth Markets and Operations Director (Asia-Pacific). “I am thrilled to be joining LBT Innovations at such a critical period for the company. APAS® is close to market and LBT has tremendous opportunities to further exploit its innovative digital imaging platform, including Woundvue®,” he said. Australian Manufacturing

Decmil secures $46m of defence contracts Decmil Australia Pty Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Decmil Group Limited, has been awarded a number of contracts worth $46 million by the Department of Defence in Western Australia, NSW, Northern Territory and Queensland. Image credit: www.decmil.com.au According to the company, in Western Australia the projects include a combat range refurbishment and bullet escalator trap replacement at Campbell Barrack in Swanbourne, and upgrade to water supply infrastructure at the Bindoon Training Area, asbestos remediation and maintenance works of the hangars at RAAF Pearce in Bullsbrook, civil and infrastructure works at Irwin Barracks in Karrakatta and various refurbishment and remediation packages as HMAS Stirling on Garden Island. In NSW, the company has been awarded sub-contract packages for the installation of stainless steel aircraft fuel lines and construction of new hot refuelling points. Decmil said the upgrade includes the installation of a new fuel control building and associated crew rooms at HMAS Albatross in Parma. According to the company, additional work was also secured at Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory and Wide Bay in Queensland, where Decmil was already performing various works. Decmil Group Limited offers a diversified range of services to the Australian resources and infrastructure industries. Companies within the group specialise in design, civil engineering and construction; accommodation services; mechanical fabrication; maintenance; and telecommunications. Australian Manufacturing

AMWU’s national train campaign scores $400m contract for Downer Edi and UGL The efforts of Downer EDI workers rallying for more company contracts have finally paid off, with the Queensland State Government awarding the company a new seven-year contract for the overhaul and modification of Queensland Rail’s L-series carriages, the diesel Tilt Trains, train units, locomotives and wheel sets. Image credit: www.amwu.org.au The announcement came just a day after more than 200 local worker and their families attended a “Save Our Jobs, Save Maryborough” meeting at the regional city’s Town hall, capping over a week of intense AMWU campaigning on securing and growing jobs for the area. According to the AMWU, Queensland Rail has negotiated a $400 million contract with Downer’s Maryborough rail centre and UGL in Townsville, with Downer expected to receive up to $300 million of the package. “This announcement proves that when regional communities come together and use their voices, we can achieve great things,” said AMWU Queensland State Secretary Rohan Webb. “Although this announcement is a great step, we will continue to lobby hard to make sure the work and jobs for Maryborough are secured through the process ahead. This announcement doesn’t mark the end of the community campaign, in fact it’s only the beginning. We will continue to mobilise the local community and build support.” AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian said it was heartening that the Queensland Government was seizing the potential for rail to invigorate local communities, in line with over $11 billion into rail manufacturing and infrastructure by Victoria’s Andrews Government. “We are on the cusp of a new, great era for rail modernization and new rolling stock manufacturing as it re-emerges as the most efficient method and moving both people and freight across this nation,” he said. “The AMWU will intensify it’s efforts to get the next Federal Government to catch up and seize that initiative, as Queensland and Victoria clearly have.” Australian Manufacturing

Researchers create recipe for 3D printing new bones The need for replacement bones is enormous – an estimated 200,000 people need replacement implants due to surgery, trauma or birth defects. Image credit: http://ift.tt/24xQ4xY In an effort to find a better solution than the ones currently available, a team of sciences at Johns Hopkins University has managed to create a new material that can be used to 3D print new bones. According to the official announcement, the new material is a mixture of pulverised decellulised natural bone and polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polyester – the perfect combination of the strength and printability of plastic with the biological “information” contained in natural bone. Polycaprolactone, or PCL, is a biodegradable polyester that is used for making polyurethane. Previous studies have shown that although strong, PCL doesn’t support the formation of new bone well so the scientists decided to combine it with “bone powder”. “Bone powder contains structural proteins native to the body plus pro-bone growth factors that help immature stem cells mature into bone cells. It also adds roughness to the PCL, which helps the cells grip and reinforces the message of the growth factors,” said Warren Grayson, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. As a natural progression, the team tested the printability of the new material. Using different amounts of the two components, they managed to find the perfect recipe. “In the broth experiments, the 70 percent scaffold encouraged bone formation much better than the 30 percent scaffold,” says Grayson, “but the 30 percent scaffold is stronger. Since there wasn’t a difference between the two scaffolds in healing the mouse skulls, we are investigating further to figure out which blend is best overall.” This new material can be used to 3D printing just about any shape of bone, completely eliminating the need to harvest bones from patients. Australian Manufacturing

Unilever Australia recalls Blue Ribbon ice cream due to plastic contamination scare Ice cream manufacturer Unilever Australia has recalled its 1.25L and 2L tubs of Blue Ribbon ice cream due to fears that the product might contain pieces of plastic. Image credit: Blue Ribbon Facebook page (http://ift.tt/1TxFJKt) The company confirmed that “a very small number of customers” have found pieces of plastic in their ice cream, and decided to recall all flavours of Blue Ribbon sold throughout Australia. “We have been made aware of a very small number of cases where plastic pieces have been found in these products and could present a risk of injury. The affected products have best before dates between 28th April 2017 – 27th April 2018. Consumers are advised not to eat the affected products and should return empty ice cream tubs to the place of purchase for a full refund,” the Unilever said in a press release. “As a precaution, if consumers are unable to see the best before date on any Blue Ribbon plastic ice cream tubs, we advise they return the empty tub back to the place of purchase for a full refund.” The company apologised for the inconvenience caused by the recall, reminding consumers that it has always been focused on their health and safety. For more detailed information, please go to www.unilever.com.au Australian Manufacturing

OZ Minerals announces further investment for proposed Carrapateena copper mine and treatment plant at Whyalla OZ Minerals has announced plans to expand its Carrapateena copper and gold mining project with an investment of $975 million. Image credit: OZ Minerals website In an ASX Announcement, the company said that it aims to begin copper concentrate production at the planned $150 million concentrate treatment plant in 2019. The mine, once fully developed and operational, along with the concentrate treatment plant, are expected to generate up to 400 local jobs over the projected 20 years of operation. “The larger Carrapateena project is very compelling,” said Andrew Cole, Managing Director and CEO. “With such strong financial metrics, we have decided to commence development of the mine’s decline and accelerate the prefeasibility study with a larger 4Mtpa scope with the aim of first copper concentrate production in 2019.” OZ Minerals also inked a non-binding MOU with the administrators of Arrium to explore possible site, infrastructure and port options at Whyalla. South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said the proposed project was great news for the Whyalla region. “The State Government has been a big supporter of the technology behind OZ Minerals’ concentrate treatment plant,” he said. “If the processing plant is built in Whyalla, it will be a great outcome for the region creating many local jobs. “The Government will work with OZ Minerals and Arrium to ensure the speediest and best outcome for this project.” The announcement was also welcomed by Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne who urged the South Australian Government to move quickly on its assessment of the CTP for Major Project status to give certainty to both Oz Minerals and the people of Whyalla and speed the progress of the project. “This is a welcome boost for Whyalla, following uncertainty created by recent job losses at Arrium and the company being placed into voluntary administration,” Mr Pyne said. “The announcement of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding between Oz Minerals and Arrium administrator KordaMentha to explore possible site, infrastructure and port options at Whyalla is good news for the city. This project will support the ongoing viability of the Arrium steelworks and tap into Whyalla’s skilled labour force.” Australian Manufacturing

Austal wins $305m Pacific Patrol Boat contract The Commonwealth of Australia has awarded global defence contractor Austal a $305 million contract for the Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement (PPBR) Project. Image credit: Austal ASX release The contract will see Austal construct 19 steel-hulled patrol boats valued at $280 million – with an option for two additional vessels – and provide sustainment support for an initial seven year period valued at approximately $24 million. According to Austal, design work will begin immediately, with construction to commence in the second half of 2017. The vessels will be constructed at the Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, WA, where the company is currently completing construction of the second of two 72 metre High Speed Support Vessels for the Royal Navy of Oman, and two additional 58 metre Cape Class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy. According to the company, the PPBR contract award will secure approximately 120 direct jobs plus many more in local and Australian subcontractors who have worked with Austal extensively over the years. Support work will be carried out at Austal’s existing contracted facility in Cairns, Queensland, which will engage local subcontractors in the region to deliver support services. The company’s CEOO David Singleton said the contract validated Austal expertise in designing, constructing and sustaining patrol boats for domestic and export customers. “Austal has consistently proven its credentials as an efficient prime contractor and shipbuilder of quality aluminium vessels and we look forward to translating that expertise into the design and construction of steel-hulled vessels,” Mr Singleton said. “Given our extensive facilities at Henderson we will need to make only minor investments in training and equipment to support construction of steel vessels of this size.” He said that the contract also opened up new opportunities for the company to further develop its successful export programs, which have accounted for up to 80% of Austal’s production in the past. “The continuous build program adopted by the Australian Government for the PPBR and planned for other program delivers the Government and taxpayers a more cost efficient vessel construction process as well as sustainable and continuous employment in Henderson which creates the bedrock for further growth,” Mr Singleton added. “We have won this program against significant international competition which demonstrates the competiveness of our Australian design and shipbuilding industry.” The all new Pacific Patrol Boat is based on Austal’s proven patrol boat design platform and is 39.5 metres long with a beam of 8 metres and a loaded draft of 2.5 metres. It is capable of travelling at 20 knots and at 12 knots possesses a 3,000 nautical mile range. Each vessel can accommodate 23 people. Australian Manufacturing

UCSD engineers mastermind innovative bioinspired ground sampler for space exploration A team of engineers and marine biologists at the University of California, San Diego, has developed a claw-like device modelled on the sea urchin’s intricate mouth and teeth that will be used to sample sediments on other plants, such as Mars. Researchers attach the device to a remote-controlled roverImage credit: jacobsschool.ucsd.edu The urchin’s mouthpiece is comprised of an intricate framework of muscles and five curved teeth with triangle shaped tips that can scrape, cut, chew and bore holes into the toughest rocks. Michael Frank, a Ph.D. candidate at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego and the paper’s first author, said the urchin’s extraordinary ability to rip through rock could translate to a good sediment sampler for space vehicles like the Mars rovers, which currently use shovels to collect ground samples. “Our goal was a bioinspired device that’s more precise and efficient at grabbing ground samples from different areas, and won’t disturb the surrounding area like a shovel would,” he said. To construct the device, researchers first extracted the urchins’ mouthpieces, scanned them with microCT, essentially a 3D microscopy technique, and analysed the structures at the National Centre for Microscopy and Imaging Research at the School of Medicine at UC San Diego. Engineers then turned the microCT data into a user-friendly file that a team of undergraduate engineering students at UC San Diego used to start iterating prototypes of the claw-like device. The students were able to quickly modify each prototype by using 3D printers in the UC San Diego Design Studio. The device was then attached to a remote-controlled small rover and tested on beach sand, and sand that simulates Martian soil in density and humidity, and delivered very encouraging results. The research group was led by mechanical engineering professor Joanna McKittrick, and also included Steven E. Naleway, Taylor S. Wirth, Jae-Young Jung, Charlene L. Cheung, Faviola B. Loera and Sandra Medina from the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego; and Kirk N. Sato and Jennifer R. A. Taylor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Australian Manufacturing

Origin Energy inks landmark power purchase agreement with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Origin Energy has reached an agreement with leading global solar company Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) to purchase solar power from the proposed 100 MW Clare Solar Farm in north Queensland, which will increase the company’s owned and contracted renewable portfolio to more than 700 MW. Image credit: www.frv.com The power purchase agreement (PPA), which will run for 13 years, will see Origin purchase 100% of the output and large scale renewable energy certificates (LRECs) from Clare Solar Farm, located 35km west of Ayr in northern Queensland. FRV will begin construction on the 300-hectare site later in 2016, with operations expected to commence in 2017. Origin Energy Markets CEO Frank Calabria said the deal follows the signing of a 15-year PPA with FRV for the solar power generated by the 56 MW Moree Solar Farm in northern NSW in March and further signposts the company’s commitment to adding more renewable energy into its portfolio. “The cost of solar is falling rapidly compared to other renewable resources and Origin is well-placed to capture opportunities towards our aspiration to be Australia’s number one renewables company. Now is the ideal time to invest in solar and we have been actively looking for opportunities to diversify and add more renewable energy to our portfolio,” he said. “The sunshine state is ideal for generating solar and Clare Solar Farm is in an optimal location close to existing transmission infrastructure, as is Origin’s DA-approved Darling Downs proposal in south-east Queensland.” FRV Chief Executive Officer Rafael Benjumea described the Clare PPA as “another significant step in achieving FRV’s strategy to develop and build renewable power generation assets across Australia and globally”. “The agreement is yet another Australian market first for FRV and, building upon the successful delivery of the Royalla and Moree solar farms, is a strong vote of confidence in FRV’s ability to deliver large scale solar projects in Australia,” Mr Benjumea said. The landmark PPA was welcomed by Queensland’s Minister for Energy Mark Bailey, who said the agreement would further boosted the State’s credentials as a leader in renewable energy generation. “The Palaszczuk Government’s renewable energy agenda is encouraging investment in Queensland that will develop a renewable energy economy for our State. We are on our way to turning the Sunshine State into the Solar State, to create jobs for regional Queensland and act on climate change,” Mr Bailey said. “The Government is helping to enable projects like this –Powerlink is working with Clare Solar Farm regarding a proposed connection to the grid through Powerlink’s existing Clare South substation. This is no thanks to the Abbott-Turnbull government’s wishy-washy renewable energy policy. I congratulate Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) and Origin Energy for reaching this agreement, this is yet another step towards reaching the Palaszczuk government’s 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.” Australian Manufacturing

AMWU: Coalition budget slap in the face to manufacturing workers The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) launched a scathing attack on the Turnbull Government on Tuesday, saying its budget “failed to deliver for manufacturing workers” and young people desperately seeking secure employment. Image credit: www.amwu.org.a “The budget’s stated focus on “jobs and growth” is betrayed by no new measures targeting investment in advanced manufacturing industries. There are no additional measures to tackle the flood of dumped imports coming into Australia undermining Australian jobs and businesses,” the AMWU said in a press release. “There is no commitment to strategic industries like steel or new adjustment assistance for automotive workers or the auto supply chain. The budget recognises the crisis of youth unemployment but rather than reversing the $1 billion of cuts to apprenticeship programs the Coalition has overseen since coming to power, it introduces a scheme that will see businesses paid to take on unpaid interns.” AMWU National President, Andrew Dettmer, described the budget as a “slap in the face” to manufacturing workers and their families. “Young workers can expect better paid jobs in Thailand than they can as part of the Government’s PaTH scheme,” said Mr Dettmer. “There is not a single extra cent put into apprenticeship programs and pathways to the high-skilled and secure jobs of our future. Nor is there any plan for advanced manufacturing to ensure we are well positioned for economic transition,” he said. He pointed out that the budget came on the day the RBA cut interest rates to their lowest ever level, citing falling prices and a weakening economy. “The government’s own numbers, as well as the RBA’s actions, tell one story while the government’s rhetoric in the budget tells another,” Mr Dettmer added. “This is a budget that has a disturbing class warfare element to it, with tax cuts for the top quarter of income earners as well as large companies, but nothing for ordinary people besides empty promises disguising cuts to programs like medicare (almost $1 billion), higher education ($2 billion) and industry skills ($250 billion).” Australian Manufacturing

3D printing in space is now a reality – Made In Space’s AMF printer installed on ISS Innovative aerospace company Made in Space announced that the first-ever space-based commercial manufacturing facility was installed on the International Space Station (ISS) last week. Image credit: madeinspace.us The Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) system – which utilises advanced 3D printing technology specifically designed for the unique microgravity environment of the ISS – was designed by Made in Space in collaboration with NASA and commercial companies. “For us, this moment is exciting because we can say, ‘we’re open for business!’” said Made In Space CEO Andrew Rush. “This is a big moment for commercial space. With AMF, for the first time customers and researchers can manufacture useful objects in space, rather than having to launch.” AMF is intended to be a permanent manufacturing facility on the ISS, providing hardware manufacturing services to both NASA and the US National Laboratory onboard. Designed to last the entire lifetime of the ISS, the AMF printer can work with a wide range of various extrudable materials including flexible polymers and aerospace grade composites. The ability to manufacture objects in space is one of the unique aspects of AMF. Another important trait of this machine is its ability to be accessed by any Earthbound customer for job-specific work, like a machine shop in space. Example use cases include, a medical device company prototyping space optimised designs, or a satellite manufacturer testing new deployable geometries, or creating tools for ISS crew members. According to Matt Napoli, Vice President of In-Space Operations, AMF currently has about six-month of prints in the queue. “Additive manufacturing in microgravity, the key enabling technology of AMF, began its life through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, and is the second technological iteration of a 3D printing experiment that went to the ISS in 2014,” he said. “The NASA SBIR program is essentially a government venture capitalist providing funding for small firms like us to turn a concept developed in our garage into a reality, in space!” Australian Manufacturing

Brazilian Authorities hit Samarco JV partners with A$57.6bn lawsuit Federal prosecutors in Brazil have filed a US$43 billion (A$57.6 billion) civil lawsuit against Samarco and its owners Vale SA and BHP Billiton for the failure of the Fundao tailings dam in November that resulted in 19 deaths and a major environmental damage. Image credit: Vale agency The lawsuit comes after a six-month investigation led by a special taskforce, and is separate from the one in which the three companies negotiated with Brazilian authorities in March to pay approximately 20 billion reais for the restoration of the environment and communities affected by the dam failure. BHP yesterday told the ASX that it had not received formal notice of the claim, but maintained that it remained committed to helping Samarco rebuild the community and restore the environment affected by the disaster. The dam failure, which occurred on 5 November, caused a tidal wave of waste water to bury the district of Bento Rodrigues and clog the Rio Doce river in Minas Gerais state before travelling nearly 500 km from the site to neighbouring Espirito Santo state. Australian Manufacturing

Maximising the potential of Queensland’s aerospace industry Queensland’s Development Minister and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham has released a proposal on Tuesday that could turn the state into a hub for the multi-billion dollar Asia-Pacific aerospace industry that keeps civil and military aircraft in the skies. Image credit: ww.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au Dr Lynham said the Queensland Aerospace 10-Year Roadmap discussion paper identified thousands of jobs and business opportunities that could materialise if the state builds on it existing reputation as Asia-Pacific aviation centre of excellence. He said the discussion paper seeks to explore the current environment in relation to aerospace, the key attributes of aerospace businesses and the key opportunities and challenges in the sector. “We already have the foundations here with our civil and defence aviation strengths – our depth of capability, our world-class expertise, and our strategic location,” Dr Lynham said. “Our Advance Queensland agenda is to grow these “high tech” industries with global growth potential. This discussion paper is the first step in setting Queensland on the flightpath towards a bigger, better future in aerospace.” In 2014–15, Queensland aerospace generated approximately $1.3 billion in revenue, of which $600 million went directly into the Queensland economy. The state’s aircraft manufacturing and maintenance sector provides 4500 jobs across 344 enterprises. The global aerospace market is expected to grow to US$352.5billion by 2023. Globally, strong passenger travel demand is forecast to require more than 35,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, particularly in India, China, the Middle East and other Asia-Pacific countries. Dr Lynham said companies like Boeing Defence Australia, Virgin Australia Airlines, Airbus Group Australia Pacific, BAE Systems, Qantas heavy maintenance and Raytheon were in Queensland because the state offered a clear competitive advantage. These advantages include the highest product quality levels within the Asia-Pacific region, an advanced manufacturing environment with an excellent skills and transport infrastructure base, high quality, cost effective aerospace design with excellent communications and IT infrastructure, as well as exceptional R&D resources, education and training. “Aerospace offers great opportunities for businesses who have never even considered this industry: for engineering companies, for instance, who have always supplied the mining industry,” Dr Lynham said. Consultation on the discussion paper runs until Friday 27 May. It will include workshops throughout May with local businesses around the state, including in Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay region, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. Australian Manufacturing

Australian PMI®: Manufacturing activity slows down in April The Australian PMI® expanded for a tenth straight month in April – the longest unbroken period of growth since September 2006 – although its level eased by 4.7 points to 53.4 following a 12-year high in March. Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotosointer According to Ai Group’s report, of the seven activity sub-indexes, all expanded except employment (down 4.2 points to 49.0). Production (down 3.2 points to 56.8), sales (down 2.7 points 56.8) and stocks (up 2.0 points to 56.7) all expanded strongly while new orders maintained mild expansion, albeit at a slower pace (down 9.6 points to 52.4). As in March, five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded. The large food, beverages & tobacco sub-sector continued to lead the way, adding 3.1 points to reach a record high of 74.1. Wood & paper products also strengthened (up 0.8 points to 65.8), as did non-metallic mineral products (up 7.0 points to 57.5). However, the March recovery in the machinery & equipment sub-sector was short-lived, with this key sub-sector moving back into contraction in April (down 3.1 points to 47.8). The input prices sub-index fell by 6.4 points to 57.3, suggesting an easing in input price growth related to the recent appreciation of the Australian dollar. Wages growth strengthened, rising 3.6 points to 57.4. The manufacturing selling prices sub-index continued a downward trend, slipping 2.7 points to 45.1. This reflects manufacturers’ efforts to combat increasing competition from international players. Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said the current expansion in manufacturing was a much-needed turnaround for a sector that has been through a “very tough” decade. “While margins remain tight, recovering domestic market share and building momentum in a variety of export markets provide a strong foundation for the lift in confidence required for the sector to move up another gear,” Mr Willox said. “A budget that boosts incentives for business investment and innovation would come at just the right time for manufacturers to capitalise on recent gains.” Australian Manufacturing

ACCC fines ugg boot importer for false “Australian made” representation The ACCC has launched a legal action against sheepskin footwear seller Kingdom Groups International for breaching the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) by making a false or misleading representation on its website about the country of origin of its footwear branded “UGG® Aries Sheepskin Australia”. Image credit: www.accc.gov.au The consumer watchdog said Kingdom’s Aries Sheepskin website featured images of the Australian Made logo attached to Aries Sheepskin footwear, as well as statements that the footwear was “truly Australian made”, and manufactured in “Junee, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory”. ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said the statements and images on the Aries Sheepskin website mislead consumers into believing that the Aries Sheepskin footwear products were manufactured in Australia, when in fact they were made in China. “The Australian Made logo is well recognised and relied upon by consumers. The ACCC was concerned that it had been used to give consumers the impression that a product was made in Australia, when it was not,” ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said. “Country of origin claims are a particularly valuable marketing tool for businesses, as many consumers place a premium on goods that are Australian made. In circumstances where consumers must rely on labels to identify where a product is made, it is particularly important that suppliers ensure that any country of origin claims they make are true.” ACCC’s infringement notice against Kingdom was welcomed by the Australian Made Campaign, which flagged the misuse of the Australian Made logo on Kingdom’s Chinese-manufactured products and associated marketing materials after conducting its own investigation. “Australia has an excellent reputation for producing quality products and produce, which makes us a target for copycat manufacturers and frauds,” Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison said. “Consumers look for the Australian Made logo to identify genuine Aussie products, and Australian farmers and manufacturers rely on it to market their products, so it is of the utmost importance that we protect the integrity of the brand. We hope this sends a strong message to people that misuse of the logo will not be tolerated.” Kingdom was ordered to pay $10,800 for the infringement. Australian Manufacturing

Dairy industry and Government convene to discuss milk price cut The Andrews Labor Government has set up a meeting with Victoria’s dairy industry leaders to discuss Murray Goulburn’s shock decision to cut its farmgate milk price by more than 10%. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj by graur razvan ionut It comes after the dairy cooperative told the ASX last week that the figure of $5.602 per kilogram milk solids (kgms) provided at the beginning of February was “no longer achievable”, and that the new prices will range between $4.75 and $3.81 kgms. In response to the situation, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford has called for the industry to come together to support farmers and regional communities who are feeling the impact of this milk price cut. “Now is the time more than ever to look over the farmgate, check on your neighbour and support each other,” the Minister said. “Dairy farming is at the heart and soul of Victorian agriculture – and we want it to stay that way. A coordinated approach will ensure industry and government work together to address the issues caused by the milk price cut.” The meeting, which will include representatives from all relevant farmers’ associations and Australia’s biggest dairy companies, will discuss the outlook for Victoria’s dairy sector and ensure that industry is coordinated in its approach for farmers and the community. Ms Pulford said the Dairy Industry Taskforce will address how the welfare of farmers and regional communities can be supported by proactive measures led by industry. “The Andrews Labor Government stands with the dairy industry during this difficult time and we are confident that its future remains strong,” the Minister added. Murray Goulburn is Australia’s largest dairy cooperative and has more than 2,600 suppliers-shareholders. Australian Manufacturing

Alcoa to keep Intalco smelter open after sealing new power deal Alcoa, the global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and manufacturing, has reached an agreement with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) that will help improve the efficiency of its Intalco smelter located in Washington state. Image credit: Alcoa Twitter pagealcoa Alcoa said that as a result of this agreement, the smelter will not curtail at the end of the second quarter as previously announced. According to the company, the amendment to the power contract is effective July 1, 2016 through February 14, 2018 and provides for additional access to market power during this period. “This short-term amendment with BPA, combined with the state of Washington’s $3 million budget proviso for workforce training, are key factors in helping Intalco remain competitive,” the company said in a statement. “Alcoa thanks Governor Inslee; its federal delegation led by Senators Murray and Cantwell, and Representatives DelBene and Larsen; the state legislative delegation led by Senators Ranker and Ericksen; and BPA for their support.” Australian Manufacturing

Havilah and CNC temporarily halt mining at Portia Havilah Resources announced that project partners Consolidated Mining and Civil (CMC) have temporarily suspended mining at the Portia gold mine due to safety concerns stemming from a slip at the mine’s open pit wall. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1RvkGqY The company said the Portia open pit wall has experienced a slip in an area where ore was previously mined, adding that it is addressing the situation to restart mining operations as soon as possible. “As a matter of prudence, Consolidated Mining and Civil (CMC) has decided to temporarily suspend their mining operations in order to allow geotechnical experts to study the geometry of the slip and carry out back calculations of the material strength,” the company said in statement to the ASX. “The slip provides critical live data that can be used to test, re-calibrate and update past geotechnical models. The objective is to provide updated guidance on the safest and best mine design going forward in order to minimise the risk of any further pit wall slips.” Havilah also announced the commissioning of its processing plant, which is now processing high grade gold ore sourced from its accumulated stockpiles. “With the processing plant ramping up to design capacity and steady operations, the processing of high grade gold ore has now commenced,” reads the statement. “Concentrates from the riffle and Knelson concentrates show that both pieces of equipment are recovering free gold particles over a wide size range. Ore is being sourced from the stockpile generated from mining the interim sub-pit, as previously reported, with there being sufficient material available for treatment for several weeks.” Commenting on recent developments, Havilah Managing Director Chris Giles said: “We are pleased to have commissioned our gold plant and see it operating according to design. Although I have often said it is a “simple” gravity plant, there I no room for error if we are to maximise gold recoveries,” Dr Giles said. “We fully endorse CMC’s cautious approach in having geotechnical experts review the current mine design and identify and suggestions for modifications going forward that will reduce the likelihood of future pit wall slips. Fortunately, we have plenty of ore stockpiled so production of gold from our processing plant will not be affected while this geotechnical study is being concluded.” Australian Manufacturing

QGC’s water treatment plant wins prestigious Industrial Water Project of the Year award QGC’s water treatment plant at the company’s northern gas fields near Wandoan, Queensland, has been named Industrial Water Project of the Year at the annual Global Water Awards which recognise the most impressive technical or environmental achievement in the field of industrial water. QGC’s water treatment plant in Queensland, AustraliaImage credit: www.genewsroom.com Designed and built by GE ad Laing O-Rourke Australia, QGC’s Northern Water Treatment Plant is the largest of a trio of produced water treatment plants that treat saline water produced as part of the coal seam gas extraction process. The plant has the capacity to purify 100,000 cubic metres of water per day which is then reused by the local communities and farmers. The water treatment plant – which was commissioned in May 2015 – features GE’s advanced water treatment technologies including ZeeWeed* submerged ultrafiltration, ion exchange and three-stage reverse osmosis followed by brine concentration. “Due to the plant’s remote location, it was imperative to utilise the latest off-site construction techniques to streamline the construction process and minimise the impact on the local environment,” GE said in a press release. “The pipe racks were modularised and manufactured to allow a “plug-and-play” approach using a pre-defined installation sequence and were trucked in according to carefully timed transport envelopes, limiting the need for police escorts and pilot vehicles. Meanwhile, the three, 120-tonne brine concentrators were manufactured off-site in New Zealand before being shipped in one piece to Brisbane, trucked to the site and installed using one of the largest mobile cranes in Australia.” Heiner Markhoff, president and CEO—water and distributed power for GE Power, congratulated QGC on winning the award. “Congratulations to QGC on winning the prestigious Industrial Water Project of the Year award for the Northern Water Treatment Plant,” Mr Markhoff said. “GE is proud to have been a part of this project from design through commissioning.” Australian Manufacturing

Caterpillar Transition Taskforce announces final round of industry support and assistance initiatives Tasmanian Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff has announced the final round of industry support and assistance initiatives supported by the Caterpillar Transition Taskforce, which was established in 2015 to support affected workers in Burnie and the North West Coast community after Caterpillar moved its hard rock vehicle operations to Thailand. Image credit: www.caterpillar.com According to Mr Rockliff, the Taskforce has allocated $400,000 to support the establishment of a state-wide advanced manufacturing industry association to be administered through the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council. “This will enable an industry-led group to advance the needs of all Tasmanian manufacturers. This was identified as the number one priority by industry at the Advanced Manufacturing Summit that was held in May 2015 in Burnie,” Mr Rockliff said. The Deputy Premier said that $200,000 have been awarded for a Manufacturing Market Expansion Program, which will enable Tasmanian manufacturers to undertake eligible market development activities to establish new interstate and international markets. This dollar-for-dollar support up to $10,000 will be available in 2016-17. Additionally, 150,000 will go towards an Innovation and Growth Voucher System to support manufacturing companies to diversify into more advanced manufacturing processes through accessing suitable expertise and support, on a 2-for-1 dollar basis of minimum $5000 up to $10,000 to be available in 2016-17. The remaining initiatives supported by the Taskforce include: $125,000 for the Ready to Bid for Defence initiative to assist Tasmanian firms to develop skills to promote defence capabilities and attract defence investment as well as leverage off Tasmania’s Antarctic status. $90,000 for a University of Tasmania project that will deliver, in partnership with industry, a transition training and skills development program in industry design and technology. $19,000 to conduct an Insights into Excellence advanced manufacturing industry tour in partnership with CSIRO and the Australian Department of Industry. The industry tour will include visits to Australian Government Growth Centres, several global companies, supporting industry associations and CSIRO’s Lab 22. Mr Rockliff said the Taskforce was allocated $3 million in Tasmanian Government funds which have been fully committed with impressive results. According to him, the Taskforce has fast-tracked at least 156 new jobs through the Advanced Manufacturing Transition Fund, which leveraged government contribution to create enormous private investment worth nearly $10 million. “The Tasmanian Government’s priority has always been jobs and economic stimulus and these initiatives will underpin long term confidence in the manufacturing sector,” the Deputy Premier concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Cactus inspired membrane could revolutionise electric vehicle industry Scientists from CSIRO and Hanyang University in Korea have developed a new type of membrane that has the potential to significantly boost the performance of fuel cells and transform the electric vehicle industry. Dr Aaron ThorntonImage credit: www.CSIRO.com.au Inspired by the humble cactus, the membrane features a water repellent skin which can improve efficiency of fuel cells in hot conditions by a factor of four. CSIRO researcher and co-author Dr Aaron Thornton said the skin works in a similar way to a cactus plant, which thrives by retaining water in harsh and arid environments. “Fuel cells, like the ones used in electric vehicles, generate energy by mixing together simple gases, like hydrogen and oxygen. However, in order to maintain performance, proton exchange membrane fuel cells – or PEMFCs – need to stay constantly hydrated,” Dr Thornton explained. “At the moment this is achieved by placing the cells alongside a radiator, water reservoir and a humidifier. The downside is that when used in a vehicle, these occupy a large amount of space and consume significant power.” According to CSIRO researcher and co-author Dr Cara Doherty, the new cactus-inspired membrane offers an alternative solution. “A cactus plant has tiny cracks, called stomatal pores, which open at night when it is cool and humid, and close during the day when the conditions are hot and arid. This helps it retain water,” Dr Doherty said. “This membrane works in a similar way. Water is generated by an electrochemical reaction, which is then regulated through nano-cracks within the skin. The cracks widen when exposed to humidifying conditions, and close up when it is drier. This means that fuel cells can remain hydrated without the need for bulky external humidifier equipment. We also found that the skin made the fuel cells up to four times as efficient in hot and dry conditions.” Project leader Young Moo Lee from Hanyang University said that team’s invention could have “major implications” for many industries, including the development of electric vehicles. “At the moment, one of the main barriers to the uptake of fuel cell electric vehicles is water management and heat management in fuel cell systems. This research addresses this hurdle, bringing us a step closer to fuel cell electric vehicles being more widely available,” Professor Moo said. “This technique could also be applied to other existing technologies that require hydrated membranes, including devices for water treatment and gas separation.” The results of this cross-continent, 10-year research were published in the journal Nature last Thursday. Australian Manufacturing

AMWU celebrates subs triumph for Australian shipbuilders AMWU members are celebrating the announcement that French firm DCNS would build 12 new submarines in Adelaide, which comes after the Union’s lengthy campaign for a continuous build in Australia. Image credit: www.asc.com.au AMWU National Secretary, Paul Bastian, said the Union’s relentless electoral pressure on the Coalition Government to pull back from sending the project offshore tipped the scales in favour of home build and helped secure the creation of thousands of skilled jobs nationally. “This has been a four-year fight which persisted through two Coalition Prime Ministers and three defence ministers, a tireless campaign which will result in Australia’s largest ever defence project being built in our own Adelaide shipyard,” Mr Bastian said. “Two years ago this Coalition Government was set to walk away from its commitment to build those subs here. Our shipbuilding members held dozens of rallies, doorknocked voters, crowdfunded billboards and saturated social media to stop that happening. This was a fight for Australian jobs, industry and our national sovereignty. Thanks to them we have in our grasp a new era of navy shipbuilding, with nearly 50 subs and surface ships providing a golden pipeline for advanced skills and technology right across Australian manufacturing.” Employer groups estimate that over 1000 firms will be in contention for expanded work over the next 10-15 years before the first sub hits the water. According to AMWU, the building and maintenance for the subs is expected to generate up to $150 billion of activity over 30 years, starting with 2800 new jobs as ASC’s Osborne facility in Adelaide is expanded with a new shipyard and factory for the project. “That’s combined with a $35 billion build for 9 future frigates in Adelaide, $3 billion for 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels in Adelaide and Perth , $2 billion to upgrade and extend the life of the Collins-class subs and $500 million for 21 Pacific Patrol Vessels in WA,” the Union said in a press release. Australian Manufacturing

ARENA announces funding support for Australia’s largest bio-energy project An early stage funding support announced by ARENA on Friday could help an $800 million bio-energy project become reality. Image credit: http://arena.gov.au/ena ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the agency is providing $3 million support for Renewable Developments Australia (RDA) to build the business case for a renewable biofuel production facility at Pentland, in North Queensland. He said the project had the potential to be “a landmark development” for the country’s bioenergy industry. “The plant is designed to produce up to 350 million litres of fuel grade bio-ethanol per annum, which would increase Australia’s production by 80 per cent. The fuel is earmarked for sale under a proposed off-take agreement with a global agriculture and energy corporation and export through the Port of Townsville,” Mr Frischknecht said. “RDA intends to grow its own sugarcane and sweet sorghum for biofuel production and will also process biomass waste with advanced and innovative processing techniques that would make the plant entirely self sufficient, renewable and independent of the grid. A ‘lignin’ by-product would fuel a purpose built 32 megawatt co-generation power plant, with excess lignin sold as biofuel pellets. This approach would mean nothing is wasted and add to the plant’s commercial viability. Importantly, the anticipated fuel price could be competitive with petrol, making ethanol a much more viable long-term renewable fuel.” He said ARENA’s funding will support growing and irrigation trials, due diligence activities required for financial close and preliminary work to support the procurement of engineering and construction services. According to him, the project would provide valuable knowledge on the commercial viability of innovative second generation ethanol production technology, which would be shared with the bioenergy industry. “RDA will identify technical, financial and regulatory developmental roadblocks affecting projects of this scale and type. The project will also provide insights on the performance of super sweet sorghum and sugar cane for biofuels,” Mr Frischknecht added. If approved, the proposed project is expected to create 500 jobs during construction and up to 200 permanent positions after construction is complete. ARENA said the business case is due for completion by November 2016, with the agency to recover its funding amount if the plant proceeds. Australian Manufacturing

Ai Group welcomes establishment of PM’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce The Australian Industry Group has welcomed the establishment of the Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce and the appointment of its partner organisation, the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council (AAMC), to help drive common standards for the industrial internet. Image credit: aamc.org.au The PM’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce, which aims to support Australia’s transition to a new economy and connect the nation to the fourth industrial revolution, is led by Siemens Australia Chairman and CEO, Jeff Connolly. The Taskforce will take part this week in important roundtable discussions at the world’s largest industrial exhibition, Hannover Messe, where it will connect Australia with the German Plattform Industrie 4.0 group and the US Industrial Internet Consortium. “Australia’s involvement, through the Taskforce, in building cooperation on global standards for the Industrial Internet of Things is important,” said Ai Group’s Chief Executive, Innes Willox. “We need to ensure technology choices are simplified, that they are broadly accessible, and that global interoperability is made easy for our predominantly small and medium sized companies.” AAMC Chairman John Pollaers said supplying high value solutions to the world by using state of the art processes was pivotal for the future development of Australia. “Australian companies must be globally competitive and actively engaged in multinational supply chains. And to do that we need to be at the forefront of developing and using cutting edge technologies,” Mr Pollaers added. “The establishment of the PM’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce puts Australia at the head table – it crucially links us into the international collaboration on global standards for the industrial internet.” Earlier this year, the German Plattform Industrie 4.0 group and the US Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) – two independent standards bodies for the industrial internet – announced collaboration to set global standards for the “Internet of Things”. It is expected that the combined strengths of both IIC and Plattform Industrie 4.0 will pave the way for development of a digitalised economy for international businesses. Australian Manufacturing

New design layout for Genex’s Kidston project to deliver increased generation capacity Genex Power Limited, the developer of the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project, has provided an update on the progress of the feasibility study for the construction of a pumped storage hydroelectric power plant at the disused Kidston Gold Mine in North Queensland. Image credit: arena.gov.au The company said the feasibility work was is advanced stages, with project consultants Entura and HydroChina currently working on finalising the detailed design for the scheme. According to Genex, the new design process has produced an innovative option that could increase the plant’s storage and peaking generation capacity of the project to a maximum of 450 MW over a 5-6 hour period, beating earlier expectations. “The design layout of the Project has evolved substantially since the pre-feasibility study concept was initially identified. The optimal design identified provides for a “Turkey’s Nest” shallow dam design for the upper reservoir to be adopted to maximise the potential of the Project,” the company said in statement to the ASX. “The “Turkey’s Nest” deign incorporates a number of strategic advantages, with the new configuration removing a number of the previous constraints inherent in the initial concept and, most significantly, enables a significant increase in the installed capacity of the Project.” Genex Power’s project aims to transform the old Kidston gold mine into a large-scale hydroelectric power plant that will deliver power into Queensland’s electricity network during peak demand periods. The proposed plant will take advantage of the Kidston mine’s unique characteristics and the existing infrastructure at the site, using the former mining pits as upper and lower water storage reservoirs. The project is supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which provided $4 million in funding for the feasibility work that will allow the company to examine the technical and commercial viability of the project. Australian Manufacturing

Volvo Cars to launch autonomous driving trial in UK Volvo Cars will begin an ambitious autonomous driving (AD) trial next year in the UK to accelerate the introduction of a technology that promise to substantially reduce car accidents and traffic congestion. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1dh34iR The Swedish car maker, which launched similar test program in Australia last year, said the new trial will differentiate itself from other AD programmes by using real families driving AD cars on public roads. Volvo president and chief executive Håkan Samuelsson said the test programme – dubbed “Drive Me London” – was part of the company’s commitment to developing autonomous driving system that would result in zero casualties in a new Volvo by 2020. He said company will source its data from these every day users and use it to develop AD cars that are suitable for real world driving conditions, rather than the more unrealistic conditions found on test tracks. “Autonomous driving represents a leap forward in car safety. The sooner AD cars are on the roads, the sooner lives will start being saved,” Mr Samuelsson said. According to the press release by Volvo, Drive Me London will begin in early 2017 with a limited number of semi-autonomous driving cars and expand in 2018 to include up to 100 AD cars. The technical data analysis and any professional test drivers needed as part of the trial will be provided by Thatcham Research. The company’s chief executive, Mr Peter Shaw, pointed out that an independent research conducted by NHTSA has found that AD holds the potential to massively reduce the number of car accidents by eliminating driver errors which account for approximately 90% of all accidents. “Vehicle manufacturers are predicting that highly autonomous vehicles, capable of allowing the driver to drop ‘out of the loop’ for certain sections of their journey, will be available from around 2021. Without doubt, crash frequency will also dramatically reduce,” Mr Shaw said. “We’ve already seen this with the adoption of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) on many new cars. Research in the US by NHTSA predicts that by 2035, as a result of autonomous and connected cars, crashes will be reduced by 80%. Additionally, if a crash unfortunately can’t be avoided, then the impact speed will also drop as a result of the system’s performance – reducing the severity of the crash.” Australian Manufacturing

Stratasys teams up with Jacobs Institute to advance application of 3D printing in healthcare Stratasys has teamed up with New York-based Jacobs Institute (JI) to create a new Centre of Excellence (COE) that will help advance the use of 3D printing for a variety of medical applications. Hillary Clinton examining vascular model produced on a Stratasys Objet500 Connex3 3D Printer with Dr Adnan H. Siddiqui, Chief Medical Officer, The Jacobs InstituteImage credit: www.businesswire.com The Centre will leverage Stratasys’ 3D printing technology to develop and test new medical devices using 3D printed prototypes and models, and enhance clinical education and training activities for a variety of audiences. Bill Maggio, CEO of the Jacobs Institute said the COE will also serve as “a referral centre” for hospitals and medical research organisations that are considering implementing 3D printing labs. “By partnering with Stratasys, the Jacobs Institute is bringing the leader in 3D printing to Buffalo to work closely with the JI and its partners, Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo, to accelerate the development of new medical technologies,” Mr Maggio said. “Working together, the respective institutions will leverage their strengths to make an impact far greater than they could make individually.” Scott Rader, General Manager, Medical Solutions, Stratasys, said the company is supporting the COE by providing advanced 3D printing solutions featuring a combination of vibrant colours and diverse material properties including different levels of opacity and rigidity. He said Stratasys will collaborate with the Jacobs Institute on technical and clinical case studies that include 3D printed applications, and also provide financial support for vital research projects. “This announcement with the Jacobs Institute is an important milestone, marking the first time we are formally partnering with a medical organisation to explore the exciting opportunities of 3D printing and healthcare,” Mr Rader added. “Stratasys brings decades of experience to the Jacobs Institute, a leader in 3D printed models, to push the boundaries of how these models can be used to train the next generation of physicians, and test new devices.” Australian Manufacturing

Siemens PLM Software and Local Motors strike partnership deal centered around Solid Edge and crowdsourcing design approach Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division, has announced a new partnership with next-gen American car company Local Motors, which employs the use of a novel vehicle design process called co-creation. Image: http://ift.tt/1k7FqJC This unique approach to vehicle design involves the adoption of the popular crowdsourcing concept, which absorbs the creative design inputs of an open design community – in this case a community of 13,000 – including the inputs of eventual customers of the vehicle. The first effort of this collaborative process resulted in the Rally Fighter, the world’s first open source production vehicle. According to the press release by Siemens, as part of the agreement, Local Motors has adopted the company’s Solid Edge® software as the computer-aided design (CAD) tool for its recently launched Open Electric Vehicle project and is recommending the software to its entire product design community. “We need to work with companies and individuals who can understand and appreciate our one-of-a-kind business model, and we need a powerful CAD tool with the ease of use, flexibility and adaptability to unleash the full creativity and innovative thinking of our diverse design community,” said Jay Rogers, president, CEO and Co-Founder, Local Motors. “We looked at several different options and unanimously determined that Siemens PLM Software and their Solid Edge application were an excellent fit. Solid Edge is easy to learn and use and its unique synchronous technology feature enables our design community to more intuitively realise design intent and more seamlessly share 3D geometry data with other CAD software.” He said that one of the first results of its partnership with Siemens PLM Software will be seen with the Local Motors’ Open Electric Vehicle project, created to design a reusable open source chassis that can be included in electric vehicle creation. Siemens PLM Software will provide design and development tools to support this effort, including its 3D CAD Software Solid Edge with synchronous technology, an exclusive capability that combines the speed and flexibility of direct modeling with the precise control of dimension driven design. Local Motors’ next project is the development of “Local Forge”, a co-creative platform for transportation design, to be made available to automotive companies including manufacturers of aftermarket parts and accessories. “We are excited to establish this partnership with an innovative and forward thinking organisation like Local Motors, and proud that they have selected Solid Edge for their Open Electric Vehicle project, and as a recommended CAD tool for their extended product design community,” said Karsten Newbury, senior vice president and general manager of Solid Edge and Velocity Series, Siemens PLM Software. “Its power to address the demanding design configurations, tight time schedules and quality standards inherent in the Local Motors approach will serve to validate and further stimulate the growing market momentum of Solid Edge with synchronous technology.” Australian Manufacturing

Amcor introduces new metal-free, transparent packaging solution Australian-based multinational packaging company Amcor has introduced AmLite Ultra, a new metal-free, transparent packaging that complements the company’s existing line of AmLite packaging solutions. Image credit: www.amcor.com Transparent packaging responds to several consumer packaging trends,” said Marco Hilty, vice president of strategy, marketing and R&D at Amcor Flexibles EMEA. “There is a move toward more minimalist packaging designs, while at the same time providing consumers more information to verify that products are fresh and healthy. Metal-free packaging also links to the desire for more sustainable packaging solutions.” Andrea Della Torre, director R&D at Amcor Flexibles, said the new AmLite Ultra barrier underwent rigorous testing programme before going to market. He said the company performed Gelbo-Flex testing on AmLite Ultra and worked with the Consulting & Testing Service Group of MOCON Inc., to evaluate barrier levels after flexing. “Gelbo-Flex testing is a way to evaluate material resistance to mechanical stress, which happens during printing, converting, filling, distribution and handling. This stress can break down barrier by the time the pack reaches consumers. What the tests revealed was very exciting,” Mr Della Torre explained. He said that in order to compare AmLite Ultra’s barrier to the highest standard, both AmLite Ultra and a standard Alu-foil laminate were tested to 100 Gelbo-Flex cycles, to see how the materials would perform under extreme conditions. “What we observed is that while the Alu-foil laminate started with a slightly higher barrier, as we flexed and stressed the material, the AmLite Ultra oxygen barrier withstood the stress better,” Mr Della Torre pointed out. “According to the MOCON Inc. test certificates, the AmLite Ultra oxygen barrier eventually outperformed aluminium by 30% at 100 Gelbo-Flex cycles. This means brand owners now have the option to choose metal-free packaging, even for highly sensitive products.” According to Amcor, the new AmLite Ultra version can be used for a range of ambient dry food products, as well as medical and personal care products. “It also offers excellent sealing properties and a strong seal to create a variety of pack formats, including bags, stand up pouches and spouted pouches, flow packs, sachets, and more,” the company said in a statement. Australian Manufacturing

Local steel industry to benefit from subs contract The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) has welcomed the award of the Future Submarine contract to French company DCNS, saying the move will open new opportunities for the local steel industry. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXjby koko-tewan ASI Chief Executive Tony Dixon said the $50 billion project had the potential to take advantage of existing local industry capabilities build up over many years from local ship builds and heavy engineering projects. “Australia’s two steelmakers have supplied world-class quality steels into many current and previous naval projects as well as pressure vessels for a range of industrial applications,” he said. “It is also encouraging that the Government has indicated it is already liaising with Australian company, Bisalloy which manufactures a range of high-tensile steels for shipbuilding and other defence applications supplying local and international markets.” Mr Dixon said it made common sense to extend the value of investment in new defence capability to “shore up” the inherent industrial strength of the country. “Maintaining a degree of heavy and advanced industrial capability with the ability to supply whenever there are disruption to international trade could prove to be just as important as securing our shores to the long-term defence of this nation,” he said. “The Australian steel industry stands ready to collaborate closely with the Government to ensure the best possible outcome for this landmark project for the country’s future naval defence needs. This work will help ensure that our members’ recent investments in advanced plant and machinery as well as the sector’s strong skills base built up over many years are embraced.” Australian Manufacturing

Murray Goulburn to undergo management changes as Managing Director and CFO step down Murray Goulburn (MG) has announced that Mr Gary Helou will step down from his role as Managing Director after both parties agreed that the stewardship of the company going forward will be “best served” under new leadership. Image credit: www.mgc.com.au The company said that Mr Helou, who will also cease to be a director of MG Responsible Entity Limited – will remain with the company for a short period to assist with the transition to an interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) while a search for a successor is undertaken. MG Chairman Philip Tracy said the company’s Executive General Manager Business Operations, Mr David Mallinson, has been appointed interim CEO of MG and MG Responsible Entity Limited. “We are very fortunate to have within the ranks of our leadership team an executive with the breadth and depth of experience that David brings to MG. David has a track record delivering growth and operational turnaround programs and proven management experience across multiple geographies,” he said. “Prior to today, David has also been leading MG’s Business Operations which encompasses the breadth of MG’s supply chain, from farm to market and employs 1,700 of MG’s 2,400 people, so he is well placed to assume the interim CEO position.” Regarding Mr Helou, Mr Tracy said he will go down in history as “a visionary leader” who delivered a strategy that has transformed the industry. “Gary has made a significant contribution to MG and has been a powerful driving force behind our transition to become a globally recognised, ASX-listed food business. We thank Gary for his passion, drive and leadership during what has been an important transformation period for MG,” he added. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Mallinson said: “MG is a great business with a strong growth future. I firmly believe MG’s value add strategy is the right direction for the company and I look forward to working with the MG team to execute the strategy, with discipline and rigour in the weeks and months ahead.” MG also announced that the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Brad Hingle has resigned from his position following Mr Helou’s decision to step down as the Managing Director but will remain in the business to assist with the finalisation of the FY16 annual results. Australian Manufacturing

Boost for regional manufacturing as Orica and Thales team up Melbourne: Orica (ASX: ORI) and Thales Australia, a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets, have signed a 10-year contract for Thales to produce five million explosive boosters each year, in a deal that is good news for regional manufacturing. Image: Orica’s Pentes G400 booster (supplied) Boosters are small explosive devices that help detonate larger charges, and are used extensively across Australia’s mining and construction industries. The new contract with Thales will replace imported products with Australian ones, and strengthens Orica’s leading position in this market. The order will increase manufacturing activity at the Benalla (Victoria) and Mulwala (New South Wales) facilities operated by Thales, including the establishment of a new multi-million dollar production line for the boosters, designed and built in Victoria. The boosters themselves are an advanced new product designed by Orica. Orica CEO, Alberto Calderon, said: “The agreement with Thales will make Orica even more competitive in Australia, with better quality booster products. It will enhance security of supply for our customers, and be more efficient for Orica. Solidifying a deal with Thales, with its reputation and leadership in technology and innovation, is an excellent strategic fit for Orica. In addition, sustaining jobs in regional Australia as a result of this agreement is a very positive flow-on benefit for the broader community.” Thales Australia CEO, Chris Jenkins, said: “At a time of ongoing economic uncertainty, this is a great result for manufacturing in regional Victoria and New South Wales. “Not only are we increasing employment and production levels at the sites, we’re also giving a leading Australian company committed to technology and innovation the reassurance of a high quality supply chain based in this country. Credit to Orica for investing in local skills and local manufacturing. “We would also like to thank the Department of Defence for their strong support of this initiative.” The new contract sustains around 100 jobs. Approximately 200 people currently work at Benalla, and 400 at Mulwala. Key Australian component suppliers will also benefit from increased annual orders from Thales as a result of the deal. Distributed by AAP Medianet. Australian Manufacturing

Ansell wins HealthTrust contract for O.R. turnover packs Ansell, the global leader in protection solutions, has announced the award of a HealthTrust contract for SANDEL® STAT-PAC™ O.R. Turnover Packs. Image credit: Ansell Facebook page The company said that as of May 1, 2016, its turnover packs will be available to more than 1,400 acute care facility members served by HealthTrust, a healthcare group purchasing and total cost management solutions company. “Ansell is committed to providing clinically relevant solutions and working with HealthTrust members to realise potential cost savings and improvements in quality, productivity, and patient safety,” said Anthony López, President and General Manager, Medical Global Business Unit at Ansell. “The various components of STAT-PAC turnover packs can be customised to meet the needs of any healthcare facility and department including the operating room, interventional radiology, catheterisation lab, labour and delivery, cystoscopy, and endoscopy.” The SANDEL STAT-PAC product line includes a range of standard and custom O.R. turnover packs that aim to enhance efficiency, help improve turnover time, and reduce the risk of cross-contamination in the operating room. “Packs contain a variety of components including disposable, impervious STAT-BLOC™ linens with Ansell’s patent-pending AMT Antimicrobial Technology designed to prevent bacterial colonisation and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections,” the company said in a press release. “Additionally, STAT-BLOC table sheets provide a super-absorbent layer for maximum fluid control as well as a quilted layer for rapid fluid absorption and to help maintain patient skin integrity.” Other components available as part of STAT-PAC turnover packs include STAT-STRAP disposable patient positioning straps, STAT-BAG heavy-duty waste bags, STAT-SORB blood solidifier, and a comprehensive offering of mops including the super-absorbent, disposable STAT-MOP. Australian Manufacturing

South Australia wins historic submarine contract Australia’s next generation of submarines will be built at the Adelaide shipyard, Prime Minister Turnbull announced on Monday. Image credit: www.asc.com.au The announcement follows the Defence White Paper confirmation that the $35 billion Future Frigate program will occur in South Australia and last week’s decision to commence the build program of Offshore Patrol Vessels in Adelaide in 2018. Mr Turnbull also revealed that DCNS of France has been selected as the preferred international partner for the design of the 12 Future Submarines, following the comprehensive Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) involving DCNS, TKMS of Germany and the Government of Japan. South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill welcomed Mr Turnbull’s announcement, saying it was a “major win” for the State. “Today’s announcement is a compete victory for our campaign to have the 12 submarines built in Adelaide. I want to thank all South Australians for standing with us in our campaign,” Mr Weatherill said. “We fought to defend SA workers when their skills and capabilities were under attack. We fought for 12 submarines when it looked like we were getting 8 – and we won. We fought for a local build when it looked like we were getting an overseas build – and we won.” Mr Stuart Wiley, the interim CEO of South Australian submarine builder and maintainer ASC, said the decision to build the 12 future submarines in Australia was recognition of the company’s highly skilled workforce and their recent productivity improvements. He described the project as “a true national endeavour” which would involve thousands of suppliers across the country and generate thousands of direct jobs. “ASC has more than 2,600 men and women currently working on submarines and warships; it’s the largest and most capable naval shipbuilding workforce in Australia and the quality of their work is world class,” Mr Wiley said. “ASC is committed to working collaboratively with DCNS from the earliest stages and sharing our unique understanding of Australian submarine requirements and conditions to ensure we build on Australia’s sovereign submarine capability to meet future needs.” The Future Submarine project is the largest and most complex defence acquisition Australia has ever undertaken. This $50 billion investment will directly sustain around 1,100 Australian jobs and a further 1,700 Australian jobs through the supply chain. Australian Manufacturing

CSIRO establishes climate research centre in Hobart The CSIRO has announced the establishment of a national climate research centre in Hobart, Tasmania, which will focus on climate modelling and projections for Australia, drawing on both the national and international research expertise. Image credit: www.csiro.au “Our Strategy 2020 is focused on collaboration, global connection, excellent science and innovation – all four of these pillars are at work in this Centre,” said CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Larry Marshall. “As I indicated at the start of CSIRO’s current broader change process, it is critical that we retain the capability that underpins our national climate research effort. The announcement today is a culmination of the ongoing consultation and feedback we’ve had from our staff and stakeholders, and this new Centre is a reflection of the strong collaboration and support right across our system and the global community.” The new Climate Science Centre will operate as part of the CSIRO’s Oceans and Atmosphere, with a guaranteed research capability for 10 years, and will focus on CSIRO’s climate change measurement and modelling researchers and resources. Dr Marshall said collaboration and partnership will be at the heart of this decadal commitment for Australia. He said that in recognition of this, the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science has agreed that an independent National Climate Science Advisory Committee will be established. The Committee will have representation from CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology and other experts from Australia and overseas, and will report at Ministerial level to inform the future direction of Australia’s climate science capability and research priorities. “The Centre, with support from the Advisory Committee, will allow scientists across the nation to provide a decadal commitment to climate research in the nation’s interest,” Dr Marshall said, adding that the foundation of the Centre will be 40 full time CSIRO scientists. He said the CSIRO is also planning to deepen its existing partnership with the UK Meteorology Office by offering its unique Southern Hemisphere modelling capability and measurements to the UK’s global model. According to him, the collaboration will help build a model that is even more relevant for Australia and other Southern Hemisphere nations. “All of CSIRO’s critical measurement infrastructure, such as the ice and air libraries, ARGO float program and Cape Grim, will be guaranteed in the same manner as the other national facilities such as the RV Investigator, which is also centred in Hobart,” he said. “CSIRO thanks Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel AO, and its colleagues at the Bureau of Meteorology for their support in shaping this important national agenda.” Australian Manufacturing

Murray Goulburn set to divest from food testing business DTS Murray Goulburn (MG), Australia’s largest dairy foods company, has agreed to sell its 25.26% stake in food testing business, Dairy Technical Services Limited (DTS), to a Consortium comprising Bureau Veritas Group and AsureQuality Limited. Image credit: www.mgc.com.au DTS was founded in Melbourne in 1954 to provide independent, analytical services to the food industry. The company has four major shareholders, including MG, The Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Group, The Fonterra Group and AsureQuality. Once the acquisition is completed, DTS will be operated by the Consortium which will provide best-in-class testing capabilities to Australian food manufacturers, including MG. MG said the sale was expected to be completed by the end of May 2016. “The divestment of MG’s interest in DTS is expected to result in a one-off profit before tax on sale of $18 million in the financial year ending 30 June 2016,” the company said in a statement to the ASX. “The full impact of the sale was factored into MG’s forecast Available Weighted Average Southern Milk Region Farmgate Milk Price advised as part of its first half year results release on 29 February 2016, given discussions regarding the DTS divestment were well advanced at that stage. Going forward, the earnings impact of the divestment is immaterial.” Murray Goulburn manufactures a full range of dairy and nutritional products such as cheese, milk powder, butter and fat, drinking milk and liquid milk products, nutritionals and value-added products, such as infant formula. The company supplies the grocery, foodservice and ingredients channels domestically and around the world, particularly in Asia, with its flagship Devondale, Liddells and Murray Goulburn Ingredients brands. Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems wins A$29m contract to deliver Archerfish undersea mine neutralisers to the US Navy The US Department of Defence (DoD) has awarded international defence, aerospace and security company BAE Systems a £15.5 million (A$29 million) contract to manufacture and deliver Archerfish mine neutralisers. Image credit: www.baesystems.com Archerfish is a remotely-controlled underwater vehicle equipped with an explosive warhead to destroy sea mines. Manufactured at BAE Systems’ Broad Oak facility in Portsmouth, UK, the Archerfish neutraliser has formed an integral part of the US Navy’s Airborne Mine Neutralisation System (AMNS) programme since 2007. In addition to Archerfish mine neutralisers, the contract also includes the supply of fibre-optic spools which provide a communications link between the vehicle and the launch platform – an MH-60S helicopter deployed from the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships. Les Gregory, Product & Training Services Director at BAE Systems, said deliveries to the US Navy will begin in September 2017. “We are delighted to provide the Department of Defence with Archerfish neutralisers, and to continue supporting the US Navy’s work in clearing sea mines,” Mr Gregory said. “This important contract demonstrates BAE Systems’ ability to deliver equipment that provides greater security and resilience to modern threats around the world, and we look forward to meeting the US Navy’s demand for a first-class underwater defence capability for many years to come.” The contract also includes further options which, if exercised by the DoD, could bring the total value to over £39 million (A$73 million). Australian Manufacturing

Shell unveils ultra lightweight, energy efficient concept car with 3D printed parts Shell has unveiled a concept car which, if it were ever to go into production, could deliver material reduction in energy use in the road transport sector. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1SvjyVQ The concept car was designed around Gordon Murray Design’s patented iStream platform and represents a radical rethink of the way in which cars are designed, developed and produced, combining cutting-edge lightweight technology – the car weighs just 550kg – with carefully chosen materials which have a low energy and CO2 footprint. The car features a number of 3D printed components and uses recycled carbon fibre for its body that can be assembled for a quarter of the price of a conventional steel car. Built through a process of “co-engineering” – whereby vehicle body, engine design and lubricants are all created together – the three seater car has proved to deliver a 34% reduction in primary energy use over its entire lifecycle when compared to a typical city car available in the UK. Shell said independent testing and a rigorous life-cycle study showed that its concept car would use around half the energy required to build and run than a typical small family car available in the UK and 69% less than a typical sports utility vehicle available in the UK. “The Shell Concept Car is a total rethink of the Gordon Murray Design T.25 city car produced in 2010 for which Shell produced a prototype oil to improve the vehicle’s energy efficiency. The new car is the result of a co-engineering collaboration between world leading vehicle, engine and lubricant designers, with each of the three elements of the vehicle tailored to work optimally with each other,” the company said in a press release. “It takes a holistic view on energy reduction focusing on design material selection; reduced energy demand via aggressive downsizing, and streamlining while enhancing the efficiency of energy delivery through innovative engine design and lubricant formulation to minimise the impact in terms of overall energy lifecycle use.” According to the company, the car’s gasoline consumption was measured using a “range of vehicle testing protocols” covering both steady state ad urban driving styles. “Sample test results include a steady state consumption of 107 miles per gallon [2.64Litres per 100km] [38km/Litres] [89.1 miles per gallon US] at 70kmph/45mph and an improvement of 4.67g CO2/km on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) from the use of bespoke lubricants, equivalent to a 5% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to standard lubricants available in the UK,” reads the press release. Mark Gainsborough, Executive Vice-President of Shell’s global lubricants businesses which backed the project, described Shell’s concept cat as a “significant automobile engineering milestone”. “I’m very proud of what Shell’s scientists and their partners at Geo Technology and Gordon Murray Design have achieved. Insights gained from this project could be transformational in terms of how we address energy use in the road transport sector. Energy use and climate change are major issues for society,” he said. “This project shows that if we use the best of today’s technology, including cutting edge lubricants science, we could potentially have a major impact on energy use and reduce CO2 emissions. The improvement in economy derived from the collaborative design of engine and lubricant is impressive and highlights the enormous benefits achieved from close relationships between design partners. It also shows the powerful role that lubricants can potentially play in helping achieve CO2 reduction targets.” Australian Manufacturing

GE Power opens advanced manufacturing facility in Greenville to accelerate development of cutting edge technologies GE has officially opened its state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Works (AMW) in Greenville, South Carolina, which the company believes will shorten time between research and development, reduce manufacturing costs and create high-tech manufacturing jobs. Image: http://twitter.com/generalelectric GE said the new 125,000-square-foot facility at its Greenville manufacturing campus will deploy best-in-class technologies to accelerate improvements in every aspect of the manufacturing process including design, engineering, product development, production, supply chain, distribution and service. The company has invested $73 million in the facility and will invest further $327 million across the GE Power Greenville campus over the next several years to drive innovation and accelerate development of cutting edge technologies that deliver more value for customers around the world. “GE is leading the transformation of manufacturing in the power industry, and this facility will ignite the digital industrial revolution for our company and the industry,” said GE Power President and CEO Steve Bolze at the grand opening of the new facility. “The opening of the AMW is a pivotal moment for us. We’re building a skilled workforce and culture that’s devoted to delivering breakthrough innovations that deliver better, faster outcomes for our customers and unlock new productivity and growth.” The AMW is GE Power’s first advanced manufacturing facility, and is expected to revolutionise the way GE Power designs, creates and improves products by serving as an incubator for the development of advanced manufacturing processes and rapid prototyping of new parts for GE’s energy businesses—Power, Renewable Energy, Oil & Gas and Energy Connections. GE’s involvement in Greenville began more than 40 years ago with a 340,000-square-foot site. The addition of the AMW has seen the site grow close to 1.7 million square feet of factories, offices and laboratories focused on manufacturing advanced products for customers worldwide. The company employees more than 3,200 workers in Greenville and has invested more than $500 million in the last five years to boost critical manufacturing activities housed on the campus. Australian Manufacturing

Carnegie commences wave tank testing at the University of Plymouth’s COAST facility Australian wave energy technology developer Carnegie is undertaking a comprehensive wave tank testing programme of its CETO 6 technology design at the University of Plymouth’s unique Coastal, Ocean and Sediment (COAST) facility. CETO 6 model undergoing testing at the University of Plymouth’s COAST labImage credit: Carnegie’s ASX release The CETO system differs from other wave energy devices as it fully submerged under water where it is safe from large storms and invisible from the shore, converting wave energy into zero-emission electricity and desalinated water. The testing programme evaluated the CETO 6 technology across a range of sea states, building on Carnegie’s internal modelling as well as previous wave tank testing and the successful in-ocean operation of the CETO 5 system in the now completed Perth Wave Energy Project. CWE UK CEO Tim Sawyer, who visited the COAST facility when testing commenced last week, revealed that over 340 separate tests will be carried out over the course of the programme. “These tests are aimed at evaluating and informing the design of our CETO 6 technology,” Mr Sawyer added. Apart from measuring the performance of CETO 6 across a range of operational and extreme sea states, the testing programme will be looking to optimise Carnegie’s preferred Power Take Off (PTO) system operation and control and validate the company’s in-house modelling suite. Additionally, the programme is expected to provide detailed and validated load case for CETO system design. Mr Sawyer said wave tank testing allowed Carnegie to quickly and cost effectively understand how the CETO device will interact with waves and other physical processes. “What this does is optimise system design and performance ahead of larger scale testing in open water environments,” he explained. Australian Manufacturing

AMWU welcomes OPV home build announcement, demands reassurances over subs deal The AMWU has welcomed the Government’s decision to build Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) locally, but maintained that only a guaranteed involvement in the build of Australia’s new submarine fleet would prevent Australian shipyards from making further cuts to their workforce. Image credit: www.amwu.org.au AMWU Assistant National Secretary Glenn Thompson said the build of 12 Offshore Patrol vessels will partially cover the production gap at ASC in Adelaide between finishing the air warfare destroyers in 2018 and starting the future frigate project from 2020. “Of course, we are happy that the Federal Government has been persuaded to accept our view that the OPVs need to be built in an Australian shipyard, to provide a continuous build, though the decision is far too late for too many workers,” he said. “The announcement is bitter sweet for our 1800 shipbuilders who have lost their jobs across Australia since the Coalition came to power in 2013.” However, he also pointed out that the OPV build in Adelaide would still not generate sufficient work at ASC to prevent many more redundancies among the 1400 workers presently finishing the destroyers. “What they need, what the country needs, is an unconditional guarantee by both sides of politics that the $50 billion build of 12 future submarines will be done totally in Australia and we are yet to hear that from the Turnbull Government,” he said. “There are 800 jobs on the line in Adelaide alone and if Malcolm Turnbull wants to give confidence to skilled workers and the defence industry right across Australia, he must take the option of an overseas or hybrid build right off the table, right now.” ASC shipbuilding delegate Glen Dallimore said the Government’s announcement was met with “cautious optimism” by workers. “It’s a pre-election promise, we’ve had them before from politicians and there’s no signatures and no contracts as yet,” he said. “We know that we have to keep up the pressure, the momentum, because things can go pear-shaped so easily and we’ve only got this far because of the union’s pressure. The valley of death is an ongoing reality here – we have redundancies every quarter on the AWD’s but the Offshore Patrol Vessels would keep the yard going, if that comes off.” ASC delegate on submarines, Andy Daniels, said a maintenance gap in 2018 on the Collins-class subs would likely result in redundancies unless there was a definitive decision on the 12 future subs. “We need an announcement that the subs will be built in South Australia, without any qualifications – that would make the big difference,” he said. Australian Manufacturing

New anti-dumping measures will protect Australian steel industry against unfair competition, Minister says The introduction of two Anti-Dumping Commission recommendations to improve dumping duties on imported Chinese-made steel will provide local manufacturers with an opportunity to compete on a level playing field, said Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXj by Suat Eman According to the commission’s findings, Chinese steel reinforcing bar is being dumped at margins from 11.7% to 30% and Chinese rod in coil is being dumped at margins from 37.4% to 53.1%, which causes material injury to Australia’s steel industry. Mr Pyne said duties applying to rod in coil from China will range from 37% to 53% of the export price depending on the exporter, while reinforcing bar from China will be subjected to a fixed duty ranging from 11.7% to 30% depending on the exporter, as well as an additional duty should the export price fall below a specified floor price. He said the implementation of these anti-dumping decisions ensured that Australian steel manufacturer Arrium can compete on a level playing field with foreign exporters from countries such as China, South Korea and Taiwan. “Australia takes pride in the quality and reliability of locally-produced steel products, so it’s only reasonable that our manufacturers compete in a fair market,” Mr Pyne added. “The Australian Government is working to sustain the local steel industry, while acting within World Trade Organisation rules.” Assistant Minister Andrews told the OECD Steel Symposium in Brussels last week that Australia’s anti-dumping reforms were tailored to ensure that the country’s steel industry is not “disadvantaged by the unfair practices of foreign companies”. “There are currently some 44 anti-dumping measures in place on 12 steel products from 14 countries and we will be closely monitoring the effect of our reforms and developments in other countries to determine whether further changes are warranted,” she said. “The Commissioner has found that, during the investigation period, the dumping of these imports caused material injury to the Australian industry manufacturing steel reinforcing bar and rod in coil. Australian Manufacturing

Fashion Revolution Week & Australian Made promote world-class Australian labels Fashion Revolution has showcased Australian Made producers again this year, with Australian clothing and accessory manufacturers taking consumers behind the scenes of their supply chains to have a peek at the people and processes involved in sustainable Australian manufacturing. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1eX4FcM Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, said this year’s “revolution”, which closed yesterday, used social media to spread the important message about supporting locally made, ethical fashion, encouraging consumers to turn their clothes inside out and ask the question “who made my clothes?” According to him, the initiative provided a “valuable platform” for Australian producers who upheld some of the highest manufacturing standards in the world, supporting local jobs and local industry in the process. “The Australian Made Campaign is proud to support Fashion Revolution Week and this country’s exceptional makers and manufacturers,” Mr Harrison said. Merino Country, a manufacturer of Australian Made merino products, has been working with Australian farmers and fabric processors for 23 years. Company founder Kerrie Richards said all garment production is done in-house in a factory in Brisbane. She said initiatives like Fashion Revolution Week presented consumers with a great opportunity to see the people and processes behind their favourite brands. “We made a conscious decision to manufacture in Australia as it enables us to have better control over the quality of our product and respond quickly to our customers’ needs. Many of our customers actively look for the Australian Made logo, so they can have confidence in the quality of their clothes and know that the people making them are being paid correctly and have good working conditions,” Ms Richards added. “Between 80 and 100 people contribute in different ways throughout the supply chain to produce just one of our wool t-shirts. We are proud to support Australian jobs and industry, and contribute to our community and economy.” Australian Manufacturing

New report examines commercial feasibility of large scale grid-connected energy storage A new report providing comprehensive overview of the opportunities and challenges for utility-scale storage is now available for use as guidance for future projects the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced on Wednesday. Image credit: http://arena.gov.au/ena The $1029578 report which examines the commercial feasibility of large scale grid-connected energy storage was conducted by AGL and project partners ElectraNet and WorleyParsons with $445846 support from ARENA through the Energy Storage for Commercial Renewable Integration (ESCRI) project. ARENA said the project explored commercial frameworks that can be used to operate utility-scale storage within the National Electricity Market (NEM). A detailed business case was modelled around a 10 MW / 20 MWh lithium-ion battery connected at the Dalrymple substation on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. South Australia has the highest proportion of renewable energy generation in Australia making it an ideal location for the investigation the Agency said. The storage technology examined is not currently commercial. The analysis also found there are several potential revenue streams for utility-scale storage. Revenue is site specific and some revenue streams are traded off against others making it difficult to capture the full value of each stream. To view the full report go to http://ift.tt/245fHGe. Australian Manufacturing

Infatril inks $30m electric bus technology agreement New Zealand-based Infatril has inked a US$30 million deal with California-based Wrightspeed Inc. for the supply of its unique award-winning electric powertrain technology the Route 500 which the infrastructure investment company intends to deploy on its public transport business through NZ Bus. Image credit: www.wrightspeed.com Wrightspeed which was founded by Teslas co-founder Ian Wright manufactures range-extended electric vehicle powertrains which are already in use successfully in the USA in waste management and delivery vehicles. Mr Wright said the companys Route 500 range-extended powertrain is capable of powering vehicles weighing up to 36000 pounds in grades as steep as 40% and maintains an efficient drive with an estimated 11.1 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent. New Zealands commercial fleets have been challenged by some of the most rigorous road conditions he said. Our technology offers an ideal and economically attractive match for those conditions and a proven solution to support New Zealands transition to clean transportation. Infatril executive and NZ Bus Chairman Kevin Baker said both companies were delighted to join forces with Wrightspeed to bring innovation through electric powertrain technology in New Zealand. An electric public transport fleet would enable New Zealand to transition to a clean energy public transport system and play a significant role in decarbonisation and reducing noise pollution in New Zealand cities he said. NZ Bus CEO Zane Fulljames said with nearly 82% of New Zealands electricity from renewable energy sources transition to electric-powered public transport alongside private vehicles will result in a substantial reduction of the countrys carbon footprint. We have explored all the options on the market for future-proofing our fleet. Wrightspeeds powertrains outperformed the competition on nearly every metric and will provide us with the fuel source flexibility and economically compelling technology to achieve that Mr Fulljames said. In the near term the technology will enable us to repower our trolley buses to enable them to be used anywhere in New Zealand. Upon successful repowering of the trolley the next stage of the journey to commence would be the retrofitting of the Wrightspeed powertrains to other vehicle types in the fleet. Under the agreement NZ Bus will receive its first powertrains by mid-2016 and begin the process of fitting and testing immediately with a view to having a first electric-powered bus on the road by the last quarter of this year. As a major transported operator we have the scale for investment of the kind this deal with Wrightspeed represents. Mr Fulljames added. We are committed to continuing to lead the industry and contribute to reducing New Zealands carbon footprint through innovation. Australian Manufacturing

Airbus launches additive layer manufacturing initiative to accelerate technical and industrial capability Airbus is making significant investments in revolutionary additive layer manufacturing technologies demonstrating its commitment to create new and better ways to fly. Image credit: www.airbus.com At the helm of Airbus additive layer manufacturing initiative is Mr Jerome Rascol who said the companys innovative efforts are centred on creating a grouping of experts and competencies from the aircraft manufacturers engineering manufacturing and procurement operations. He said with this knowledge base the company is well-positioned to define a vision strategy and roadmap for applying 3D printing technology. This approach will accelerate the companys technical and industrial competencies and bring together research and technology activities directly with programmes Mr Rascolsaid. I can see Airbus manufacturing a bionic aircraft based on 3D printing in the future so were taking a pragmatic step-by-step approach. 3D-printed parts are already applied in Airbus commercial jetliner product line from the widebody A350 XWB to its single-aisle A320neo and the cornerstone A300/A310 Family. Approximately 2700 plastic parts have been 3D printed for the A350 XWB programme with Airbus also working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to qualify titanium components produced with 3D printing technology. Airbus said this innovative technology has been used to produce pylon components for the A320neo developmental aircraft in support of the flight test campaign and for out-of-production spare parts on the A300/A310 Family of jetliners. Mr Rascol said the adoption of the additive layer manufacturing initiative will see the company take its capabilities even further. He said the initiative was focused ondeveloping methods tools and training for 3D printing and supporting the wider application of additive manufacturing technologies in Airbus supply chain. There are surely applications and paradigm changes we have not thought of yet Mr Mr Rascol added. We are thinking every day about ways to 3D print tomorrows technology for airframes cabins and systems. Australian Manufacturing

$40 million development represents the single largest investment by the Bosch Group in Australia since 1954 The global supplier of technologies and services inaugurated its new headquarters and technical centre at its 120000 square meter Clayton campus in Victoria last night. The $40 million development has been marked asthe single largest investment by the Bosch Group in Australia since the company established its wholly owned subsidiary in 1954. Opening of the new building at the Bosch Clayton Campus in Melbourne. Wednesday 20th April 2016. The Victorian Minister for Industry and Minister for Energy and Resources the Hon Lily DAmbrosio MP inaugurated the newly redeveloped facilities. Boschs commitment to this project represents a great vote of confidence in the underlying strength of Victorias economic fundamentals said Minister DAmbrosio. It is a special day for us said Gavin Smith Bosch President with responsibility for the region Oceania. The new facility is evidence of Boschs long-term commitment to diversified activities in this region including sales and distribution high tech engineering advanced manufacturing and further investment into exciting new fields. The company announced an additional $6.2 million will be invested into manufacturing for the global automotive sector which will support approximately 200 engineers predominately working on projects for international automotive customers..The Clayton facility will increase Diodes production capacity to support growth with international customers. The Federal Government has contributed AUD $1 million from the Automotive Diversification Programme (ADP). The Hon Lily DAmbrosio MP Minister for Industry at the opening of the new building at the Bosch Clayton Campus in Melbourne. Wednesday 20th April 2016. Australia is an important location for the Bosch Group. We have seen a positive development of our business in 2015 and we are confident of the markets long-term prospects said Peter Tyroller member of the board of management of the Bosch Group responsible for Asia Pacific. The new facility which incorporates offices workshops testing facilities training rooms and employee amenities is aimed toreflect the diversified nature of Bosch business in Oceania. The new facility is evidence of Boschs long-term commitment to diversified activities in this region including sales and distribution high tech engineering advanced manufacturing and further investment into exciting new fieldssaid Minister DAmbrosio. Australian Manufacturing

AVL pens MoU with C-Tech Innovation to develop electrolyte plant in Australia Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with C-Tech Innovation Limited a UK- based company which develops technologies for electrochemical preparation of vanadium electrolyte as well as many other chemical and electrochemical technologies. Image credit: wustralianvanadium.com.au Under the terms of the agreement the two parties will collaborate on the development of vanadium electrolyte production capability in Australia through both stand-alone and mine-attached facilities. C-Tech Innovation deliver innovative products and processes for electrochemical and advanced thermal applications. This includes unique electrochemical processes for use in energy and environmental applications such as metal recovery water treatment chemical synthesis fuel cells and batteries. AVL said it was drawn to collaborate with C-The Innovation because of their work with flow batteries and in particular their product solutions for the electrochemical production of vanadium electrolyte which aligned with AVLs integrated vanadium strategy for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRB). C-Tech Innovation has developed a proprietary electrochemical process of vanadium electrolyte suitable for use in vanadium redox flow batteries. Approximately 20% to 30% of the total cost of a VRB battery is due to the vanadium electrolyte which can be used to store electrical energy from grid or renewable generation sources. This stored energy is then able to be used later when the battery is discharged for example when demand is higher than supply from renewable sources or to export back to the grid to maintain grid stability AVL said in an ASX release. VRBs are unique energy storage devices particularly suited to commercial on-grid and off-grid applications due to their scalability long asset lives with deep and high cycling capability. Their low risk operation makes them particularly suitable for commercial operations where safety is of paramount importance. According to AVL its 100% owned subsidiary VSUN is also included in the MoU with all three parties to collaborate to develop electrolyte production capabilities in Australia New Zealand and South East Asia. AVL said that key objective of the agreement include: The contract supply and installation of a pilot-scale electrolyte mixing plant in Perth Australia which will allow testing of various vanadium sources with the aim of producing vanadium electrolyte of a suitable standard for use in commercial Vanadium Flow Battery units; Design and supply of key components of a full-scale production electrolyte plant; Collaboration with other AVL consultants on design and specialiation of a mine-attached electrolyte purification and production facility as part of AVL Gabanintha feasibility study; AVL to act as an exclusive agent for C-Tech vanadium electrolyte cell technology in Australia New Zealand and South East Asia. C-Tech MD Ged Malow said the collaboration with AVL presented the company with huge opportunity to tap into the expanding Australasian renewable market. AVLs plans to vertically integrate vanadium mining with electrolyte production and flow battery commercialisation is an important step in creating a low cost and sustainable infrastructure for VRB energy storage he said. Our involvement in this partnership is hugely exciting for us from both a technological and a commercial standpoint. AVL CEO Vincent Alga described the MoU as an important step forward for Australian Vanadium. C-Tech has developed important technology to support the anticipated rapid uptake of commercial vanadium flow batteries across the world as energy storage becomes a key part of renewable energy penetration. Raw materials such as vanadium require processing in order to prepare them for battery use. This relationship with C-Tech leveraging its existing technologies and exciting new ideas provides AVL further opportunities to grow as it builds up its vanadium integration strategy he said. Details of the test plant contract can now commence with finalisation and shipping to follow as soon as possible. Australian Manufacturing

Gentrack to provide billing and customer management solution for leading renewable energy retail utility in UK Auckland-based Gentrack a specialist in software for utilities and airports has signed a contract with UK-based renewable energy retail utility Good Energy to implement its Gentrack Velocity Billing and CRM software. Image credit: www.gentrack.com Gentrack CEO Ian Black described the contract as a significant milestone for the business in the UK energy sector. The UK energy sector is rapidly evolving with retailers like Good Energy a provider of 100% renewable energy challenging the Big 6 energy providers Mr Black said. This contract to deliver our proven billing and customer management solution supports our continued investment in the UK as a core growth market for Gentrack. In addition to the contract with Good Energy Gentrack also announced the re-signing of the Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA) for an upgrade of it Gentrack Velocity Billing and CRM software. Gentrack said the project continues a 17 years partnership with FEA Fijis incumbent supplier of electricity services to over 200000 households and businesses. Gentrack employs over 200 people in offices in New Zealand Australia and the UK and services utility and airport sits across four continents. The company is comprised of two leading software products Gentrack Velocity and Airport 20/20 the former being a specialist billing and CRM product designed for energy utilities and water companies in competitive and regulated utilities markets and the latter a comprehensive Airport Operational System engineered to optimise an airports operations through intelligent collaboration streamlining airport information flows and transforming the passenger experience. Australian Manufacturing

Auroras subscale X-Plane Aircraft with 3D-printed parts successfully flown Advanced aerospace vehicles developer Aurora Flight Sciences has announced that a subscale vehicle demonstrator (SVD) of its LightingStrike Vertical Take-off and Landing Experimental Plane (VTOL x-plane) for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was successfully flown at a US military facility. Image credit: www.aurora.aero Aurora Chief Technical Officer Tom Clancy said the flight of the subscale aircraft met an important DARPA risk reduction requirement focusing on validation of the aerodynamic design and flight control system. The successful subscale flight was an important and exciting step forward for Aurora and our customer Mr Clancy said. Our designs distributed electric propulsion system involves breaking new ground with a flight control system requiring a complex set of control effectors. This first flight is an important initial confirmation that both the flight control and aerodynamic design are aligning with our design predictions. Aurora said that the subscale aircraft weighs 325 pounds and is a 20% scale flight model of the full scale demonstrator that the company will built for DARPA in the next two years. The wing and canard of the subscale vehicle utilise a hybrid structure of carbon fibre and 3D printed FDM plastics to achieve highly complex structural and aerodynamic surfaces with minimal weight the company said in a statement to the ASX. The unmanned aircraft take-off hover and landing was controlled by Aurora personnel located in a nearby ground control station with oversight and coordination by US government officials including DARPA personnel. On March 3 2016 DARPA awarded the Phase II contract for the VTOL X-Plane contract to Aurora followinga multi-year Phase I design competition. The program aims to develop a vertical take-off and landing demonstrator aircraft that will achieve a top sustained flight speed of 300kt 400 kt with 60-75% increase in hover efficiency over existing VTOL aircraft. Auroras design is for the first aircraft in aviation history to demonstrate distributed hybrid-electric propulsion using an innovative synchronous electric-drive system. Having successfully completed the subscale demonstrator flight Auroras LightingStrike team will focus over the next year on further validation of flight control system and configuration of the full scale VTOL X-Plane demonstrator. Australian Manufacturing

Latest CSIRO invention sees leading German brewery produce worlds first gluten-free beer People with coeliac disease around the world could soon be able to kick back with a cold glass of beer thanks to work by Australian scientists. Image credit: www.csiro.au CSIRO scientists with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) have bred theKebarigrain a new barley variety with ultra-low levels of hordeins the type of gluten found in barley. German beer brewing companyRadeberger has usedthe Kebaribarley to develop the worlds first commercially produced full flavoured barley-based gluten-free beer Pionier which CSIRO scientists see as the first of many products that can provide greater variety of foods and beverages for people struggling with coeliac disease and for those who avoid gluten in their diet. While the Kebarigrain cannot be called gluten-free in Australia under the current Food Standards Code it contains gluten levels well below 20 parts per million the level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for classification as gluten free allowing products made withKebaribarley to be classified as such in many countries around the world including Germany. CSIRO Principal Research Scientist Dr Crispin Howitt said that by using conventional breeding the CSIRO scientists were able to reduce the gluten levels to 10000 times less than regular barley which more than meets the WHOs recommendation for calling a grain gluten-free. Its really exciting seeing the first product made with the malted version of ourKebarigrain we hope its the first of many products Dr Howitt said. Were also working on a hulless version ofKebariwhich is preferable for use in a range of foods like breakfast cereals soup even pasta and flatbreads which will be the first part of the next generation of gluten free products helping people with coeliac disease to increase fibre promote bowel health and enhance nutrition in their diet. According to the press release by CSIRO the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and The Royal Melbourne Hospital were involved in the early stages of the ultra-low gluten barley project. Australian Manufacturing

Chevron inks Wheatstone gas agreement with Alinta Energy Oil and gas giant Chevron has signed a domestic gas sales agreement with Alinta Energy for the supply of natural gas from its Wheatstone Project near Onslow Western Australia. Chevron Australia Managing Director Roy Krzywosinski with Alinta Energys CEO Jeff Dimery Image credit: http://ift.tt/1Ql9axB The agreement will see Chevron supply Alinta Energy with 20 Petajoules per year of its equity domestic gas for seven years starting in 2020. Chevron Australia managing director Roy Krzywosinski said Wheatstone had the potential to become WAs leading domestic gas supplier in the years to come. We are committed to being a safe competitive and reliable supplier of domestic gas for Western Australias future energy needs and pleased to strengthen our longstanding relationship with Alinta Energy he said. At full capacity the Wheatstone Project has the capacity to produce 200 terajoules per day (TJ/d) of domestic gas for the Western Australian market. This agreement is an important step in Chevrons rapidly expanding domestic gas business in Western Australia and the establishment of our leading domestic gas portfolio across the Wheatstone Gorgon and North West Shelf Projects. The Wheatstone Project is a joint venture between Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (64.14%) Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) (13.4%) Woodside Petroleum Limited (13%) and Kyushu Electric Power Company (1.46%) together with PE Wheatstone Pty Ltd part owned by TEPCO (8%). The project is under construction near Onslow Western Australia and will consist of two LNG trains with a combined capacity of 8.9 MTPA and a 200 TJ/d domestic gas plant with gas to be delivered from Onslow via pipeline to an inlet point on the Dampier Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline. Chevron currently supplies 10% of the WA gas market through its participation in the North West Shelf Project. Australian Manufacturing

Toyota pledges to raise the bar for sales and servicing standards even higher Toyota Australia is looking to take sales and service standards to the next level after a record-breaking two thirds of its entire dealer network were awarded the maximum five-star customer service rating in the past year. Image credit: www.toyota.com According to the company the results were determined by independent surveys of owners whom the car maker refers to as guests about the level of satisfaction with their experience at Toyota dealerships during 2015. The company has now pledged to gain an even deeper understanding of each guest and the reasons that determined their opinion rather than simply relying whether a dealers performance is deemed to be satisfactory. Toyota Australias executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the new approach essentially asks customers whether they intend to recommend Toyota to their friends. We are committed to ensuring the experience Toyota gives you is so good its worth talking about Mr Cramb said. We dont just want satisfied guests we want to deliver an experience that lives up to our Oh what a feeling! brand promise every time we meet. Mr Cramb said it was imperative that guest experience be well understood closely monitored and continually improved on. The goalposts keep shifting so it is vital we really listen to our guests to ensure we have the information that enables us to be much more effective in improving the overall ownership experience for each guest he added. It is also good for our business because we can create a sustainable competitive advantage by ensuring our operations exceed guest expectations. Mr Cramb said the 2015 five-star guest experience dealers deserved their praise for cementing the companys position as a leader in the automotive industry. He said 69% of the companys 209 participating dealerships received the maximum rating for both sales and service which represents a significant improvement on the 2014 results (42%). According to him the company already has a range of initiatives in place to improve the interaction with guests revamping its dealer standards to include specific advances such as the appointment of a guest experience manager in each dealership. If we want to stay ahead of the market and meet the changing needs of our guests we also have to get the basics right by remaining at the forefront of the industry so we can offer the best vehicles available in Australia he concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Turnbull Governments announcement for Australias multi-billion defence programs produces mixed reactions South Australian Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher has reacted on yesterdays announcement of the build locations for the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) program saying the states high-tech manufacturers are well positioned to capitalise on the $3 billion defence project. Image credit: www.baesystems.com According to the announcement by Prime Minister Turnbull construction of the 12 OPVs will begin in Adelaide in 2018 before moving to Western Australia in 2020 when construction of the Royal Australian Navys future frigates begins. Commenting on the announcement Mr Maher said SAs manufacturers including electronic hardware and software manufacturers and steel fabricators will have the opportunity to become suppliers to this important defence program. The OPV program is expected to create more than 400 direct jobs and will ensure a continuous ship build in South Australia the Minister said. The State Government along with unions representing shipyard workers and industries through the Defence Teaming Centre have conducted a long campaign to ensure the OPV program and other major defence programs are based in South Australia. He said opportunities for local high-tech manufacturers through the OPV program could include navigation systems propulsion systems integrated bridge and control systems communication systems automated firefighting and damage control systems and helicopter flight systems. With South Australias economy transitioning from old-style heavy engineering to high-tech high-value manufacturing the OPV program presents an excellent opportunity for local companies to become suppliers the Minister added. The program will also enhance our reputation as Australias centre of naval shipbuilding expertise. We now need a recommitment from the Federal Government that Australias future submarine fleet will be built in Adelaide. However the Governments decision to award the $594 million construction contract for 21 steel-hulled patrol boats to Western Australia sparked a fierce reaction from Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt who branded the announcement as anotherTurnbull Government failure. Queensland isnt just the logical geographic and strategic choice the Cairns Consortium has the skills and workforce to deliver this project and establish Cairns as a defence hub for Northern Australia Mr Pitt said. Instead because of a ludicrous decision in Canberra well now see Pacific Patrol Boats being constructed in the Indian Ocean only to sail halfway back around the country to serve in the Pacific. He said the decision meant that Malcolm Turnbull has turned his back on Cairns and turned his back on Queensland. The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement contract should have been awarded to Cairns and Im shocked that the Turnbull Government is spruiking its decision to award Western Australia the build component at the expense of Cairns jobs and regional development in North Queensland Mr Pitt added. We need to know if the proposed maintenance contract will materialise for Queensland?And is this $400 million really going to deliver jobs?Or are we being asked to smile while Canberra does nothing but promise to deliver a second prize for Cairns? Australian Manufacturing

Amcor acquires the largest flexible packaging business in South America Amcor has reached an agreement to acquire Alusa, the largest flexible packaging business in South America, for US$435 million. Image credit: Amcor website Alusa – which includes Alusa (Chile), Peruplast (Peru), Aluflex (Argentina) and Flexa (Colombia) – is owned by Techpack S.A and Nexus Private Equity and generates approximately US$375 million from the supply of flexible packaging for food, personal care and pet food applications. The company has four plants – in Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Chile – and a broad range of capabilities, including film extrusion, flexographic and gravure printing and lamination. “With the creation of new Flexibles Americas Business Group in July 2015, these was an expectation this business could accelerate growth in both North and South America. It is pleasing that over a relatively short period of time, our flexible packaging sales in the region will almost double to nearly US$1 billion with the acquisition of Alusa, and the recently completed acquisition of Deluxe Packages in the USA,” Amcor CEO and Managing Director, Ron Delia said. “Alusa comes with a strong management team and provides a unique platform in an important growth region. A large number of Amcor’s multinational customers operate in South America, and this acquisition significantly improves our ability to support their needs and to grow with them in these markets. Along with our leadership positions in Europe and Asia, Amcor’s customer value proposition will substantially improve with a strong presence in South America. A truly global product offering differentiates Amcor in the flexible packaging marketplace, positioning us as a partner of choice for customers.” The transaction – subject to approval by Techpack shareholders and the relevant regulatory authorities – is expected to close in the coming months. Australian Manufacturing

12 Offshore Patrol Vessels will to be built in Adelaide, Prime Minister Turnbull says The Turnbull Government has announced the build locations for 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels and up to 21 Pacific Patrol Boats, in addition to nine Future Frigates previously announced. Image credit: www.baesystems.com According to the press release by the Department of Defence Ministers, major warships will be built in Adelaide and minor vessels in Henderson, Western Australia. “These announcements provide for two shipyards to implement the Government’s commitment to a continuous build of naval surface ships in Australia,” reads the press release. “These three projects will ensure Australia retains a sovereign capability to build and sustain its naval vessels. Together they represent close to $40 billion worth of investment in Australia’s future naval capabilities and our naval shipbuilding industry. They will directly secure more than 2,500 jobs for decades to come. They will also generate thousands of additional jobs with suppliers.” Prime Minister Turnbull said construction of the Offshore Patrol Vessels will begin in Adelaide from 2018, following the completion of the Air Warfare Destroyers and transfer to Western Australia when the Future Frigate construction begins in Adelaide in 2020. He said three designers have been shortlisted for the Offshore Patrol Vessels, including Damen of the Netherlands, and Germany’s Fassmer and Lurssen. “This program is estimated to be worth more than $3 billion and will create over 400 direct jobs, Mr Turnbull added. He said three designers – BAE Systems with the Type 26 Frigate; Fincantieri with the FREMM Frigate, and Navantia with a redesigned F100 – have been short-listed for the construction of the Future Frigates, which will also be built in Adelaide, incorporating the Australian-developed CEA Phased-Array Radar. “This program is estimated to be worth more than $35 billion, and will directly create over 2000 jobs,” the Prime Minister said. Mr Turnbull said Austal Ships Pty Ltd has been selected as the preferred tenderer to construct and maintain up to twenty-one replacement steel-hulled Pacific Patrol Boats in Henderson, Western Australia. “Subject to negotiations, this program is estimated to be worth more than $500 million and will directly create over 130 jobs,” Mr Turnbull said. Australian Manufacturing

Austal selected as preferred tenderer for PPBR project Austal Limited has been awarded preferred tenderer status by the Commonwealth of Australia for the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPBR) Project, which involves the construction of up to 21 steel-hulled patrol vessels and through life sustainment over 30 years. Image credit: australia.austal.com Austal said its share of the PPBR program will include the construction of the vessels and short to medium term maintenance components of the project, adding that it will now work with the Government to complete documentation and finalise the contract over the coming weeks. The company’s CEO David Singleton said the construction of the Pacific Patrol Boats will commence at its shipyard in Henderson, WA, with through-life support to be performed at Austal’s existing facility in Cairns, Queensland. “I am delighted that we have been selected as preferred tenderer, adding to our long history of constructing patrol boats at our shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Austal has delivered Australia’s entire border patrol capability – comprising 30 vessels delivered over the past 17 years – and we look forward to extending this by constructing and servicing vessels that will be used by many of our neighbours in the South Pacific,” Mr Singleton said. “Construction of the Pacific Patrol Boats also extends Austal’s shipbuilding capability into steel-hulled vessels, which will be important for the future construction of Offshore Patrol Vessels. This project will add to our existing work at our Henderson shipyard, where two High Speed Support Vessels are being constructed for the Royal Navy of Oman this year as well as two additional Cape Class Patrol Boats.” Australian Manufacturing

Rio Tinto announces extension of historic Channar mining joint venture Mining giant Rio Tinto announced that it has extended the historic Channar Mining Joint Venture agreement with Sinosteel Corporation. Image credit: www.riotinto.com Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Andrew Harding and Sinosteel Corporation president signed the Channar agreement in a ceremony in Beijing, officially extending the long-established relationship between both companies until the end of the decade. Rio Tinto said that the Channar JV extension, along with a separate agreement for the supply of iron ore from the Pilbara, will enable sales of approximately 70 million tonnes of iron ore to Sinosteel over the next five years. “This extension will see 30 million tonnes of iron ore supplied into the joint venture, with Sinosteel making a one-off payment of US$45 million to Rio Tinto and providing additional production royalties linked to the iron ore price,” the company said in a statement to the ASX. The separate agreement between the two companies will see Rio Tinto sell up to 40 million tonnes of iron ore to Sinosteel between 2016 and 2021. “In the 50 years that we have been exporting iron ore from the Pilbara, the Chinese joint venture stands as one of the most important deals not only for our business, but for Australia’s economic ties with China. Now in its 30th year, it is one of the longest running and most successful partnerships between the nations,” Mr Harding said. “We place immense value on our long-term customer relationships and today’s agreements clearly demonstrate Rio Tinto and Sinosteel remain committed to our mutually beneficial partnership.” Sinosteel President Liu Andong was equally delighted with the agreement. “The Channar Mining Joint Venture was the first large-scale mining initiative between our two countries and is a cornerstone of Chinese and Australian trade. The extension of the joint venture marks another milestone in trade cooperation, especially in the current economic climate,” he said. “The relationship between Sinosteel and Rio Tinto has demonstrated the ability of our companies and both nations to sustain long-term joint commercial activities for the benefit of all concerned.” The Channar joint venture (Rio Tinto 60%, Sinosteel 40%) owns the Channar mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The mine is managed by Rio Tinto and the joint venture agreement provides Sinosteel with take-off rights for a volume of Pilbara Blend (into which Channar ore feeds) equivalent to Channar production. Australian Manufacturing

Devondale officially launches NatraStart in China Australian dairy foods company, Devondale Murray Goulburn (MG) has introduced the new Devondale NatraStart in a product launch event held at the Hotel Kunlun in Beijing, China. Image credit: www.mgc.com.au The launch – which was attended by approximately 150 guests, including nutrition experts and commentators – coincided with this year’s “Australia Week in China” event during which many Chinese and Australian business and government leaders gathered to discuss opportunities for the future. MG’s Executive General Manager of Dairy Foods, Mr Albert Moncau, was in Beijing to mark the occasion and said the company was very proud to launch MG’s newest product in China. “Today’s launch of Devondale NatraStart for the China market is an exciting milestone for MG. Our product is Australian made and is specially formulated to assist in meeting children’s nutritional needs,” he said. Mr Moncau pointed out that Devondale products use farm fresh Australian milk to meet the country’s strict food quality and safety regulations. “Thanks to our unique vertically integrated supply chain, our products are controlled by our company from the farmgate in Australia right through to the shelf in China,” he added. The company also participated at a China-Australia CEO Roundtable, demonstrating its commitment to China in the future. “The trust offered to us by Chinese consumers is something we take very seriously. China is a critically important market for Devondale products and it’s a very exciting time for us because in addition to the Devondale NatraStart product we’re introducing today, we are always looking for opportunities to develop new products that meet the unique needs of Chinese consumers,” Mr Moncau said. “We believe that our new Devondale NatraStart will be enjoyed by Chinese customers and consumers, who appreciate Australia’s natural purity and our company’s unwavering commitment to product safety and quality,” he concluded. According to the company’s press release, the Devondale NatraStart product is now available in China. Australian Manufacturing

Carnegie teams up with UWA for world’s first wave energy research project Carnegie Wave Energy and the University of Western Australia (UWA) will soon start investigating the optimal number, size, arrangement and location of wave energy converters in an effort to minimise the cost of installation and infrastructure and maximise power output. The UWA’s Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems Centrifuge facility Image credit: Carnegie ASX release The project will focus on 4 key areas, including: Producing new design guidelines and tools for how to optimally place wave energy arrays along coastlines. Producing guidelines and tools to identify and design optimal secondary mooring line systems. Developing a probabilistic foundation design method for wave energy converters. Adopting an integrated approach using the three aforementioned points to optimise wave energy array location and arrangement optimising power output, while minimising foundation costs. Carnegie Chief Technology Officer Jonathan Fievez said the company was delighted to work alongside UWA in what he described as “a world first study”. “The research will focus of the interactions between wave energy, convertor location, array configuration, bathymetry and geotechnical characteristics to reduce costs,” he said, adding that the project was supported by $994,000 in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). “The outcomes of this study will then be applied to the development of our CETO 6 technology.” Mr Fievez noted that while wave energy offered substantial advantages over other renewables, the cost of production remained relatively high. “One effect of this study will be to optimise foundation placement and use with the aim of reducing the overall cost of foundations for CETO projects,” he added. Carnegie is also collaborating with UWA’s Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems on a separate Australian Research Council (ARC) linkage project which aims to develop more efficient anchoring systems. The wave energy technology developer said both projects leveraged UWA’s world class capability for developing and providing innovative anchoring solutions for offshore applications. “Partnering with UWA is part of Carnegie’s strategic approach to work with specialist research intuitions and industry partners to develop innovations designed to be incorporated into the CETO 6 technology which have the potential to decrease costs and/or improve unit performance,” the company stated. “Such research areas include foundations, advanced control systems and the power take of system.” Australian Manufacturing

AMWU welcomes federal Labor Opposition’s new steel policy The AMWU has welcomed the federal Labor opposition’s new steel policy which includes imposing Australian standards on all steel used in federally-funded projects in a move to encourage local content. Image credit: www.amwu.org. The policy proposes tightening Australia’s anti-dumping regime, halving the threshold for Australian Industry Participation Projects plans from $500 million to $250 million, as well as creating a new steel supply advocate and doubling the funding for the Australian Industry Participation Authority. National Secretary Paul Bastian described Mr Shorten’s six-point plan to regulate and subsidise Australia’s metals industries as a “step in the right direction”, but urged both the Coalition Government and the Labor Opposition to do more to ensure the future of the steel industry. “We welcome Bill Shorten’s policy on stronger anti-dumping provisions and more stringent quality standards and these are important policies to ensure the future of our industry” Mr Bastian said. “We are also pleased that the Opposition has reduced the threshold for Australian Industry Participation plans from projects valued at $500m to $250m. However, we are disappointed that Labor has not backed mandated local content on government projects. This is a missed opportunity to turn government spending on nation-building infrastructure into secure jobs in the steel industry.” The AMWU is advocating for a mandated 90% of high quality Australian steel to be used in government infrastructure projects instead of importing cheaper foreign steel of dubious quality. Mr Bastian said the potential for use of local steel has already been seen in the Victorian Labor Government’s procurement policy, which has stipulated that 100 per cent local steel be used in the project to fix 50 dangerous rail crossings. “We need Labor and the Coalition to focus on promoting the use of Australian steel in government infrastructure projects as a matter of urgency,” Mr Bastian concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Coal heavyweight Peabody files for bankruptcy US coal giant Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to strengthen liquidity and reduce debt amid an unprecedented industry downturn. Image credit: http://ift.tt/14n3Mr1 The nation’s largest coal company said all mines and offices will continue to operate for the duration of the process and confirmed that no Australian entities are included in the filings. Peabody President and CEO Glenn Kellow said the decision to file for bankruptcy was “difficult” but outlined “the right path forward” for the company. “We begin today to build a highly successful global leader for tomorrow,” Mr Kellow added. “Through today’s action, we will seek an in-court solution to Peabody’s substantial debt burden amid a historically challenged industry backdrop. This process enables us to strengthen liquidity and reduce debt, build upon the significant operational achievements we’ve made in recent years and lay the foundation for long-term stability and success in the future.” He said the company has secured $800 million in debtor-in-possession financing facilities, which were arranged by Citigroup and include participation of a number of the company’s secured lenders and unsecured noteholders. “The facilities include a $500 million term loan, a $200 million bonding accommodation facility and a cash collateralised $100 million letter of credit facility, and are subject to court approval as well as limitations as set out in the company’s filings,” he said in a statement. “In addition to the company’s existing cash position, Peabody believes that it has sufficient liquidity to operate its business worldwide post-petition and to continue the flow of goods and services to its customers in the ordinary course.” The coal industry has suffered profoundly in recent years, primarily due to a dramatic drop in the price of metallurgical coal, weakness in the Chinese economy, overproduction of domestic shale gas and ongoing regulatory challenges. However, analysts are confident that both the US and global coal demand will stabilise, with US gas prices projected to recover from recent lows. Mr Kellow said thermal coal was expected to continue to fuel hundreds of existing coal generating plants globally, and to be an essential source of global electricity generation and steel making for many decades to come. “A company like Peabody with safe, efficient operations will be well positioned to serve coal demand that will continue in the United States and around the world,” said Kellow. “We are a leading producer and reserve holder in our core regions of the Powder River Basin, Illinois Basin and Australia. Peabody has a new management team, outstanding workforce, unmatched asset base and strong underlying operational performance that represent a key driver in the company’s future success.” Peabody also announced that it has terminated the planned sale of the company’s New Mexico and Colorado assets after the buyer was “unable to complete the transaction.” Australian Manufacturing

New purpose-built artificial reef to be built off Mandurah Western Australian Fisheries Minister Joe Francis has announced the creation of the first purpose-built artificial reef in the growing Peel region, which is expected to benefit recreational fishers and local businesses. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1GYpYWW WA will now have three artificial reefs – off Mandurah, Bunbury and Dunsborough – each funded from the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF) which draws on revenue collected from recreational licence fees. “Following the success of the two artificial reefs built off Bunbury and Dunsborough in 2013, the State Government has committed $1.1 million towards a third reef off Mandurah to improve recreational fishing opportunities. It will be created using 30 modules, each weighing 10 tonnes, which are designed to increase biodiversity while providing great fishing. The artificial reef will be located nine kilometres offshore, due west of Halls Head, in 25 metres of water,” Mr Francis said. “Many West Australians already flock to Mandurah each year to fish for prized blue swimmer crabs and this initiative will provide another reason to visit, as well as bringing flow-on benefits to local businesses. Fish such as pink snapper, samson and skippy are expected to be attracted to the reef once algae, seaweed and coral start growing on it.” He said the location for the reef was determined after extensive consultation with groups including Recfishwest and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, adding that local companies have been supported in the project, with the reef modules built by the Australind-based MJB Industries and specialist marine engineering company Subcon contracted to deploy the reef. “Every dollar of recreational licence fee money is reinvested into recreational fishing, be it through artificial reefs, restocking projects, management, compliance or research,” the Minister said. Australian Manufacturing

Escondida opens third concentrator plant Minera Escondida, the subsidiary of BHP Billiton, has officially opened its third copper concentrate plant at a ceremony carried out on site. Image credit: BHP Billiton/YouTube (Screenshot) The US$4.2 billion Organic Growth Project One facility will add 152 ktpd to the capacity of Escondida’s two existing concentrators, providing the operation with unmatched copper processing capacity of 422 ktpd. “The plant that we inaugurated today follows a project that required 60 million labour hours and involved 9,200 people during its peak construction period. This project has been a huge challenge but was completed with an excellent safety record”, said the President of Minera Escondida, Hilmar Rode. The commissioning of Organic Growth Project One, coupled with the completion of the second desalination plant that the company is building at Puerto Coloso, gives Escondida the potential to operate with three concentrators in the medium term. The company believes that this added capacity will offset the natural ore grade decline and will contribute to the recovery of production in the medium term. The president of BHP Billiton Minerals Americas, Daniel Malchuk, noted that Escondida has increased its processing capacity by more than ten times and its copper production by almost four times during its 25 years of operation,. “We have just completed the Organic Growth Project One concentrator plant and we continue to invest in the Kelar gas-fired power plant and the Puerto Coloso desalination plant. We continue to work hard and look towards the future with optimism”, he indicated. Last year, Minera Escondida’s copper production was 1,152,510 metric tons, which were comprised by 826,220 tons of copper contained in concentrate and 326,290 tons of copper cathodes. The company’s average production capacity is expected to be approximately 1.2 million metric tons per annum for a decade from Financial Year 2016, with minimal further capital required. Australian Manufacturing

Santos appoints new directors Leading independent oil and gas producer Santos has announced the appointment of Peter Hearl and Guy Cowan to the company’s board as independent non-executive directors following the retirements of Ken Dean and Jane Hemstritch. Image credit: santos.com The company’s Chairman, Peter Coates, said the appointments were part of the Santos Board’s ongoing renewal process. He said the was looking forward to welcoming Mr Hearl and Mr Cowan to the Santos Board, and thanked Mr Dean and Ms Hemstritch for their significant contribution to the company. “On behalf of the Board and shareholders, I would like to thank Ken and Jane for their many years of outstanding service on the Santos Board and Committees, including as Chairs of the Audit and Risk committee,” Mr Coates said. Mr Hearl is a director of Telstra Corporation Limited, where he is a member of the Nominations Committee and the Remuneration Committee. In addition, he is a director of Treasury Wine Estates Limited, where he is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. Mr Hearl has an extensive experience in operating and development roles, including an 18-year stint in the oil and gas industry with Exxon where he started his career with Esso Australia. Following his departure from Esso in 1990, Mr Hearl joined the food and beverage industry, where he held senior roles with PepsiCo and Yum! Brands, including Yum’s Chief Operating and Development Officer from 2006 to 2008 and President and Chief Concept Officer of Yum’s Pizza Hut division from 2002 to 2006. Mr Cowan is a director of UGL Limited, where he chairs the Health, Safety and Environment Committee and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. He is also Chairman of Queensland Sugar Limited, and a former Shell-appointed Alternate Director of Woodside Petroleum Limited (1992-1995). Mr Cowan has over 30 years’ experience in international commercial and finance roles, including 25 years in the oil and gas industry with Shell. He held the position of Chief Financial Officer and Director, Shell Oil US, from 2003 to 2005, and Chief Financial Officer and Commercial Director, Shell Nigeria, Dorm 2000 to 2003. Mr Cowan was also Chief Financial Officer of Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited from 2005 to 2009. Australian Manufacturing

ASC targets Future Submarine Project participation with new appointment Australia’s leading submarine company ASC has announced the appointment of Martin Edwards to the new position of General Manager Future Submarines, effective immediately. Image credit: asc.com.au Mr Edward, who has almost 25 years of combined experience with ASC across the Collins Class and Air Warfare Destroyer build programs, will take on his new role at a time of exciting change for the Future Submarine Project as the Government considers which design partner to select from the Competitive Evaluation Process. ASC Interim CEO Stuart Whiley said Mr Edwards would strengthen the company’s strategic focus as the Future Submarine Project entered its next stage. “I warmly welcome Martin to his new role. With both executive and engineering experience across ASC’s submarine and ship platforms, Martin is well-placed to guide ASC through the next stage of the future submarine project,” Mr Whiley said. Mr Edwards said that ASC had the capability and the capacity to make a significant contribution to the Future Submarine Project whilst still fulfilling the sustainment needs of the Collins Class submarines. “ASC’s 30-year experience, unmatched facilities and expertise in building and maintaining Australia’s submarines, gives us a unique capability for the benefit of the nation,” he said. “ASC has over 300 degree-qualified engineers, including most of Australia’s highest qualified submarine platform engineers, and has forged links to hundreds of local Australian industry suppliers as part of its submarine maintenance operations. ASC is ready, willing and able to make a vital contribution to the Future Submarine project from the earliest stages.” Australian Manufacturing

Commerce Minister Michael Mischin: WA ready to take active role in naval defence program Defence Minister Marise Payne has met with the Western Australian Defence Industry Council at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA to discuss the opportunities for local industry in the delivery of the plans outlined in the 2016 Defence White Paper. Image credit: defence.gov.au The Minister met with a number of large and small Defence industry businesses, as well as with WA’s Commerce Minister Michael Mischin, to discuss how they can work with Defence and the Federal Government to deliver the innovative solutions the Australian Defence Force requires. “This is but one of many conversations I will have with the defence sector around the country to ensure industry knows what Defence requires, and Defence knows what industry can deliver,’’ Minister Payne said. “Western Australian industry is already fulfilling an important role in supporting the security of Australia and around $2.4 billion will be invested in upgrading Defence facilities in WA over the next decade.’’ Mr Mischin told the Defence Minister that WA companies had the infrastructure, expertise and track record to support the Australian Government’s $89 billion naval shipbuilding and maintenance programs.” “The Government has a strong interest in the future and sustainability of the Australian naval industry and is actively promoting WA’s capability to build and maintain the naval vessels outlined in the Defence White Paper,” he said. “Both the private and public sectors have invested heavily to build capability in these areas and, as a result, we have a local industry which is internationally competitive and innovative. They have honed their skills working on major extractive resource projects including Gorgon, Wheatstone and Prelude, and should be playing a role in these defence projects. Western Australian companies bidding for work associated with the multibillion-dollar package have my full support and I will continue to promote their capabilities to key decision makers.” He said the State and Australian governments had invested more than $400 million in infrastructure at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) to support current and future naval shipbuilding projects. “This State has well-established common use infrastructure and experienced private sector contractors who deliver excellent results,” he said. “We understand the importance of the future defence programs and welcome the opportunity to showcase how we can provide support.” Australian Manufacturing

BAE Systems to build Assault Amphibious Vehicles for Japan BAE Systems has been contracted by the Japanese Ministry of Defence to manufacture new Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) that will assist with the ongoing development of an amphibious capability within the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force. Image credit: www.baesystems.com Dean Medland, vice president of programs at BAE Systems’ Combat Vehicles business said the contract will see BAE Systems provide 30 new AAV7A1 Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (RAM/RS) vehicles, plus supply tools and test equipment to support maintenance. In addition, the company will provide training aids for the vehicles to the Japanese military. “We’re proud to support the Japanese military’s recapitalisation by providing this enhanced amphibious capability,” Mr Medland said. “As the original equipment manufacturer of the AAV fleet, we have a strong history of supporting this platform.” The AAV7A1 RAM/RS variant is fitted with a more powerful engine and drive train, as well as an upgraded suspension system compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the variant provides improved mobility, command, control, and repair capabilities while transporting troops and cargo from ship to shore. According to the defence contractor, work on the contract will commence at its York facility in Pennsylvania in August this year. “Production is expected to begin in August with vehicle deliveries beginning one year later,” the company said in a statement. “Final delivery to Japan is expected to take place by the end of 2017.” Australian Manufacturing

Australian pilot plant that turns CO2 into potential green construction materials commences operation Mineral Carbonation International (MCi) commenced operation of its carbon conversion reactor at the University of Newcastle (UoN) last month, paving the way towards establishing the basis for a large scale solution for utilising CO2 in building materials such as cement bricks. The MCi Mineral Carbonation Research Pilot PlantImage credit: www.orica.com The CO2 mineral carbonation research pilot plant – which is situated at the UoN’s Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) facility – is transforming captured CO2 emissions into forms of carbonates and silicates for use in green construction materials such as cements and plasterboard. Orica Acting Group Executive, Strategic Marketing and Technology, Jez Smith said the commissioning of the new research pilot plant comes after nine years of extensive R&D undertaken by the joint venture partners University of Newcastle, GreenMag Group and Orica. “This achievement brings us another step closer to closing the carbon loop and is a result of years of collaborative research between the University of Newcastle, GreenMag and Orica,” Mr Smith said. He said the establishment of the carbon reactor plant will accelerate the development of novel methods for permanently and safely disposing carbon from emissions of fossil fuel electricity generators and other industrial processes. “Mineral carbonation technology has the potential to help Orica and customers address issues associated with CO2 intensive operations, produce materials for use in the construction sector and open up new markets for the materials used to sequester the carbon dioxide,” he added. MCi CEO, Marcus St. John Dawe said the project is being conducted by a leading multi-disciplinary team of more than 25 researchers, chemical and industrial engineers led by Dr Geoff Brent and Dr Mark Rayson from Orica, Professor Eric Kennedy, Professor Michael Stockenhuber and Dr Jan-Dirk Prigge from the University of Newcastle. “The mineral carbonation technology mimics and accelerates the Earth’s own carbon sink mechanism by combining CO2 with low grade minerals to make inert carbonates and silica, which are similar to common chalks and sand,” he said. University of Newcastle Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kevin Hall described the research pilot plant as an “excellent example” of research and industry working together to solve global challenges. “This project highlights the scale of innovation being led out of the Hunter through NIER and points to emerging industries and future jobs markets that may arise as a result of these innovative technologies.” The A$10 million project operates with joint funding from the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments, with support from Orica and the R&D Tax Incentive. Australian Manufacturing

Anteo Diagnostics files two new patents in the Energy sector Australian biotechnology company Anteo Diagnostics has filed two new patents related to the energy sector on top of the patent filed approximately a year ago. Image credit: anteodx.com Dr Joe Maeji, Chief Scientific Officer of the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Anteo Technologies, said these three patent filings expand Anteo’s existing Intellectual Property base in the energy sector to batteries, super capacitors and other non Life Science applications. “Early last year, we successfully concluded a body work into coatings for new anode and cathode materials for lithium ion batteries as part of our long-term diversification strategy. This culminated in the filing of a patent application in 20 April, 2015 directed at new methods that significantly increase battery capacity, enable faster charging as well as improve cycle life Anteo’s scientific team focused on strengthening the Company’s patent position and not only will our first application progress to PCT stage before April 2016, but also two additional patents were filed on 29 March, 2016,” Mr Maeji said. “Based on our own investigations, those of our contracted IP searchers and an International Search Report regarding our first patent application, we are very confident that we have established a unique patent position in energy storage and conversion systems. Together, these three patents form the basis of a strong IP strategy in these important industrial applications and are an important milestone that allows the Company to progress commercialisation activity more confidently.” Dr Maeji noted that the company continues to strengthen its capabilities to for coatings or glues for all sorts of materials relevant to many different industries. He said that in order to increase throughput in testing, the company now has button battery fabrication capabilities and has initiated scale up studies consistent with industrial needs. “From the company’s inception, our core business has been in coatings and glues. We have taken a considered approach to exploration of non-Life Science opportunities and we continue to track progress according to our development plans,” he concluded. Australian Manufacturing