Iron ore prices drop amid Chinese future confidence

Iron ore has dropped toward $US50 per tonne, the first loss in four weeks, as the US dollar strengthens. It comes amid predictions from investment groups, including Goldman Sachs, that recent increases are not likely to continue.

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Protestors temporarily shut down Whitehaven coal mine

Anti-mining activists have locked themselves to a conveyor at Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri mine.

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ABB survey shows majority of utilities see IoT as key to asset management

A global survey of executives at leading utility companies by power and automation technology specialist ABB has revealed the increased importance of integrating information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) for effective asset management.

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Mt Cattlin begins lithium production

Galaxy Resources has officially begun production at its Mt Cattlin mine.

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Alcoa set to sell stake in DBP to Duet Group Alcoa of Australia has agreed to sell its stake in DBP, the owner and operator of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP), to Duet Group (Duet) for A$205 million. Image credit: Alcoa Twitter page The company said that as part of the transaction, it will maintain its current access to approximately 30% of the DBNGP transmission capacity for gas supply to its three alumina refineries in Western Australia. “The sale is expected to close in early April. The Company expects to recognise a gain in connection with the sale of between $10 million and $15 million, after-tax and non-controlling interest, or $0.01 per share,” Alcoa said in a press release. “Alcoa of Australia expects the net cash impact of the transaction, after estimated fees and taxes, will be approximately US$115 million.” Alcoa of Australia is owned 60% by Alcoa Inc., and 40% by Alumina Limited. DBP is currently owned 20% by Alcoa of Australia and 80% by DUET. Australian Manufacturing

EDL‘s Coober Pedy project reaches financial close The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has helped the Coober Pedy Renewable Diesel Hybrid project to reach financial close with $18.4 million funding support. Image credit: http://ift.tt/25yYp65 The project, which will be built and owned by Energy Developments Limited (EDL), will operate on a unique hybrid combination of 4 MW wind, 1 MW solar and a 1MW /250kWh battery, providing the town of Coober Pedy with up to 70 per cent renewable energy over a 20 year project life. EDL’s existing power station (comprising 3.9MW of diesel generators) will be upgraded with additional equipment to integrate the renewable power. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the agency’s long-lens investment focus has allowed it to work together with EDL throughout the two year conception phase. He described the Coober Pedy project as a “prime example” of Australia’s world-leading expertise in devising renewable micro-grid solutions with strong export potential. “This is a next-generation off-grid project, taking advantage of advanced renewable and enabling technologies that have already been successfully trialled at off-grid locations such as King Island,” 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.” The project, to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, is underpinned by a 20 year power purchase agreement with the District Council of Coober Pedy, supported by the South Australian Government. Australian Manufacturing

SA introduces laws to allow on-road driverless car trials South Australia has passed a new legislation to become the first Australian state to allow on-road trials of driverless cars. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1pOjh8s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said companies wanting to trial technologies across the state’s public roads will simply be required to submit plans of the proposed trial and have sufficient insurances to protect the public. “These laws have received praise from companies at the forefront of this industry, which is estimated to be worth $90 billion dollars within 15 years,” Mr Mullighan said. “For instance Google referenced the legislation as a benchmark for other countries to follow due to its design and support of innovative technologies. South Australia is now positioned to become a key player in this emerging industry and by leading the charge, we are opening up countless new opportunities for our businesses and our economy.” Rita Excell from the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) said the introduction of the new legislation comes as officials from the ADVI are in the Netherlands taking part in the European Truck Platooning Challenge. “ADVI is investigating the benefits for truck platooning, there is the potential to deliver significant benefits for the heavy vehicle industry, which cover long distances between communities and other capital cities,” she said. “Truck platooning could deliver safer and more efficient transport operations and improve traffic flows. The laws have paved the way for trials to happen in South Australia and have seen other states follow our lead by beginning to consider the benefits that connected and autonomous technologies could provide.” Australian Manufacturing

Nestle workers in NSW and Victoria agree bumper deal with management Nestle workers in Blacktown, NSW and in Broadford and Campbellfield in Victoria have approved an agreement that will increase their wages for nearly three per cent each year. Image credit: www.amwu.org.au The agreement will also see the company commit to taking on extra apprentices, use of leave for members affected by family violence and the opportunity for more flexible hours when older workers wish to transition towards retirement. The new agreement covers more than 450 AMWU members in production and maintenance at the aforementioned company sites in NSW and Victoria, which produce iconic products such as the Kit Kat, snakes, and medicinal cough lollies. AMWU National Food Secretary Tom Hale said management had adopted a more “enlightened approach” towards the issue of family violence, agreeing that no person should be subject to any discrimination in being given leave time to deal with these matters. According to Mr Hale, the company will also consult delegates each year before the budgetary process about the possibility of hiring new apprentices in maintenance and will provide and pay for all tools for maintenance workers. “Delegates from each of the three sites were closely involved in every stage of the negotiations and overall it has been a fairly orderly process,” Mr Hale said. “It’s a result they’ve been pleased with and are members have voted to initially endorse.” Mr Hale said the agreement, which also includes backpay to November, was being finalised this week, with a formal vote due soon so it can put before the Fair Work Commission for final approval. Australian Manufacturing

Cockatoo Coal workers still waiting for entitlements

Former Cockatoo Coal employees from the Baralaba Coal Mine have not been paid their entitlements since retrenchment.

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Black lung review committee to submit interim findings today

The review committee into the Queensland Mine Workers Health Scheme (QMWHS) will present interim findings about black lung screening to the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines today.

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Sandvik releases new conveyor composite rollers

Sandvik has launched its new generation of all-composite rollers for industrial conveyors.

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Mining’s rally poor for the industry

The recent rally mining commodities saw are more likely to have a negative impact in the long run, according to market analysts.

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How unions are changing in a bid for relevance – and survival

It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. As Australian unions face increasingly urgent challenges to their legitimacy and influence, it comes as no surprise they are busy rethinking how best to represent their members and reverse the decline in membership they have experienced over the last 30 years.

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Breakthrough aircraft to transform remote mining

Lockheed lands $480m customer for aircraft combining power of helicopter, airplane and hovercraft dramatically altering mining and exploration economics

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Lucapa Diamond finds another large diamond

Lucapa Diamond, which uncovered a 404 carat diamond earlier this year, has found another large stone.

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Victoria’s wine industry boosted by new Growth Fund The Andrews Labor Government launched the Wine Growth Fund on Tuesday as part of its $1 million election commitment to boost the wine industry. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1MTu0Uk The Fund was established with specific goal of developing and growing the wine industry in Victoria by providing innovative growers, organisations and projects with funding to build both domestic and international markets. In announcing the Wine Growth Fund on Tuesday, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford revealed that applications are now open for grants of up to $20,000 for individual organisations and $50,000 for collaborative projects involving more than one organisation to support marketing, exporting and business development activities. “Victoria’s premium wine is the envy of the nation – that’s why we’re supporting the industry to ensure the world continues to demand our products. This is about investing in our growers, our industry bodies and the entire supply chain,” the Minister said, adding that projects that increase wine tourism and cellar door sales, foster export markets and deliver skills and training for business development will be considered favourably. “These grants will help producers, intermediaries and representative bodies to maximise the opportunities available to better market and export some of Australia’s best wine.” According to Ms Pulford, the first round of grants closes on 31 May 2016, with funding to be provided on a co-contribution basis of $1 to $1 to the maximum grant amount. Wine Victoria Chair Damien Sheehan welcomed the establishment of the Fund, saying the Victorian Government’s support of the wine industry comes at a time when many of the industry were “doing it tough”. “The investment announced today gives us the ability to partner with the government on key issues that can reverse our profitability issues,” Mr Sheehan added. “As the Australian dollar drops and the strength of Victoria’s tourism grows, now is the time to increase the world’s knowledge of our premium wine offering by increasing cellar door visitation and growing exports in key markets.” For further details about eligible projects, funding priorities and how to apply, please visit http://ift.tt/1Rr0B9E. Australian Manufacturing

IDT contracts Canadian manufacturing company to expand generics production capacity Victoria-based pharmaceutical manufacturing company IDT Australia Limited has inked a manufacturing and supply agreement with Canada’s WellSpring Pharma Services for an initial group of two to three products that require manufacturing processes of scale not currently available at IDT’s Boronia facilities. Image credit: en.idtaus.com.au “The first product being worked on by WellSpring is pindolol, a cardiac drug with an addressable US market of US$10m (2015). The product has low levels of competition and high margins,” the company said in a statement to the ASX. “Placing these products in a second facility doubles the resources being applied to the re-commercialisation of IDT’s proprietary generics range and accelerates progress towards revenues and profitability from our own range of products.” IDT-WellSpring products are expected to be available on the US market via ITD’s appointed distributor ANI Pharmaceuticals in CYH2 2016. According to IDT, the work is partially supported by the fund raising undertaken by the company in December 2015. Headquartered in Boronia, Victoria, IDT is commercialising a portfolio of 24 generic drugs to manufacture and sell via US distribution partners, and is also exploring EU and Japanese sales opportunities. The company’s facilities are fully cGMP compliant and are regularly audited by the US FDA and Australian TGA. Australian Manufacturing

Redflow makes new board appointment ahead of residential battery launch Australian battery manufacturer Redflow Ltd has appointed seasoned technology industry executive Patrick Tapper to its board of directors, just days before its residential battery launch. Image credit: redflow.com Mr Tapper – who will occupy a non-executive role as Redflow starts its next phase of growth – has already worked alongside the company’s Executive Chairman Simon Hackett at Internode, where he was CEO and Executive Director from 1998 to 2013. Simon Hackett said the appointment of Mr Tapper brought invaluable business experience and insight to the Redflow board. “Pat has an in-depth knowledge of what’s needed to build organisations as they grow,” he said. “With Redflow about to launch its residential battery product, the board believes Pat’s experience and insight will make a valuable contribution.” According to data from US-based IHS Technology, Australia’s energy storage market will grow tenfold this year to more than 5000 battery installations as households seek to use energy storage to avoid increasing electricity costs. This is expected to make Australia one of the top five global markets for energy storage in 2016, trailing only behind the US, Japan, Germany and the UK. IHS also estimates that Australia’s residential and commercial energy storage demand will double in each of the next two years, leading to as many as 30,000 Australian households having solar photovoltaic energy storage systems by 2018. Commenting on his new appointment, Mr Tapper said he was delighted to join the Redflow board. “Redflow is an exciting company that has commercialised a world-leading energy storage system,” he said. “I look forward to working with Simon and the board to make sure that Redflow delivers its flow batteries to residential, commercial and energy utility companies in Australia and worldwide.” Australian Manufacturing

Queensland Government & Australian Solar Council critical of ARENA funding cuts The Palaszczuk Government and the Australian Solar Council yesterday held an urgent meeting to discuss the possible implications from the Turnbull Government’s cuts to renewable energy funding on regional Queensland projects. Image credit: http://arena.gov.au/ Energy Minister Mark Bailey said the proposed merger between the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) will result in a $1.3 billion cut in competitive solar energy grant funding. “This is a critical issue for regional Queensland, and the Premier will be looking to raise it at COAG on Friday. Right across regional Queensland there are shortlisted solar projects ready to go, to help transition to a clean energy economy. ARENA is a key partner of the Palaszczuk Government in delivering renewable energy projects and jobs across the state. If it loses its capability for competitive grant funding then that means renewable energy projects that can deliver jobs in regional Queensland simply won’t happen once this round is complete,” he said. “Not one large solar project has been financed since the election of Tony Abbott, and things are getting worse under Malcolm Turnbull. I call on the Prime Minister to urgently rethink these massive cuts, and get on board with us turning the Sunshine State into the Solar State.” John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council, said the $1.3 billion cut to renewables funding will adversely impact Queensland’s economy and will result in regional jobs being cut. “The Palaszczuk Government has shown national leadership by committing to 50% renewables by 2030, but Malcolm Turnbull has pulled the rug from under Queensland’s economic and environmental future,” he said. “These projects deliver jobs and investment into regional communities that need them most, while at the same time we can be taking effective action to address climate change. I congratulate Premier Palaszczuk for showing leadership in renewable energy, and committing to raise this issue nationally.” Australian Manufacturing

Price shock: how the gas industry is weathering the oil crash

Falling oil prices are causing a shake-up in the gas industry. The latest sign of this is Australian energy company Woodside’s indefinite deferral of its huge gas project off northwest Western Australia, so what lays ahead for the industry?

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Hackers target gold miner

A Canadian gold miner has become the latest target of hacker and digital activist group Anonymous.

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ABB to provide equipment and services for the world’s largest floating facility

Global power and automation specialist ABB has been contracted to deliver equipment and services for Shell’s Prelude FLNG facility.

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WA welcomes new mining minister

Western Australia will soon welcome Member for Churchlands Sean L’Estrange as the new Mines and Petroleum Minister.

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Hughes wins new gold drilling contracts

Hughes Drilling subsidiary JSW has won a number of drilling contracts in Western Australia.

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Coal mine head injury prompts investigation

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of an accident which saw a Mannering Colliery LHD driver receive severe lacerations to the head after colliding with a damaged roof support.

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Aussie miner hits ultra-high grade strike

Australian miner West African Resources has uncovered an ultra-high grade mineralisation at its M1 South Prospect in Burkina Faso.

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Lifting underground mining

A world first event has delved deep into robotics and automation in underground mining.

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Queensland Ministers condemn CSIRO cuts Queensland Science Minister Leeanne Enoch and the State’s Minister for the Environment, National Parks and Great Barrier Reef Steven Miles have accused the Turnbull Government of “failing Queensland” by refusing to guarantee that job cuts at the CSIRO won’t restrict research into the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef. Image credit: CSIRO Minister Enoch referred to the disturbing level of coral bleaching showed by a footage released last week by the Queensland Government to illustrate how critical continued research on the Great Barrier Reef remained. “I asked Minister Pyne to commit to continuing this important research and he failed to do so. The Great Barrier Reef is not only one of the great natural wonders of the world but a huge tourism drawcard for not just Queensland but Australia,” Ms Enoch said. “The Reef generates an estimated $6 billion for the Australian economy and supports 69,000 jobs. So, I’m once again calling on Minister Pyne to guarantee to the people of Australia that he won’t stand by and let vital research for this jewel in our crown to be cut.” Queensland partners with the CSIRO extensively on issues of climate change and its effects on the Great Barrier Reef. The scientific organisation also play important roles on the Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce and other advisory bodies tasked with providing key modelling and advice on the health of the reef. “When it comes to protecting the reef, climate and water quality sciences are the most important things. But they are being targeted by the Prime Minister’s cuts,” said Minister for the Environment, National Parks and Great Barrier Reef Steven Miles. “The withdrawal of CSIRO from climate science reduces the level of confidence and certainty around the Australian Government’s commitment to securing the future of the beef industry in regards to climate change adaptation, and the Reef in regards to nutrient and soil management.” The recent job cuts at the CSIRO follow the loss of 1400 jobs at the organisation since the Turnbull/Abbott Government came to power three years ago. Ms Enoch the cuts would not only impact the Great Barrier Reef itself, but would also cripple Australia’s capacity for scientific advances in the future. “If we are aspiring to be one of the world’s leading innovators, we must have scientists, entrepreneurs and startups working collaboratively to deliver tangible outcomes for Australia,” Ms Enoch said. “But the Federal Government is sending the wrong message internationally that Australia is not a country that values scientific excellence.” Australian Manufacturing

Techport to undergo wharf expansion The South Australia Government has sanctioned a multi-million dollar expansion of its Techport facility to expand its wharf by 22 meters and permit two Air Warfare Destroyers to berth side-by-side. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1SkDf1M The $5 million upgrade, to be funded by the Air Warfare Destroyer program, will significantly expand the facility’s infrastructure and improve its competitiveness to secure future naval shipbuilding contracts. “The wharf extension includes an extra 11 metres at each end and enables test and activation activities for the Air Warfare Destroyer program to be conducted at Techport Australia,” said Minister for Defence Industries Martin Hamilton-Smith. The State Government has also in place another major upgrade plan that envisions a second dry dock for shipbuilding and maintenance as well as expanded work areas to allow ships and submarines to be built concurrently. Mr Hamilton-Smith rubbished reports that Techport Australia did not have “ample space” to deliver Offshore Patrol Vessels, Future Frigates and Future Submarines. “South Australia is the natural home of shipbuilding in this country. Techport Australia can be readily expanded to support all three projects and we stand ready to work with the Commonwealth to deliver Australia’s next generation naval fleet,” he said. “The State Government has already invested $250 million in Techport Australia. As a nation we must capitalise on this investment, not spend money elsewhere developing capabilities that already exist in South Australia. We have the skilled workforce ready to start work on the Offshore Patrol Vessels. Hundreds of shipbuilding workers have already lost their jobs and there will be many more to come.” The Minister also maintained that key decisions about Offshore Patrol Vessel and Future Submarine build locations “must not be delayed”. “The industry and the workers need certainty and stability now and these important announcements must not be held off until after the election.” Australian Manufacturing

AGL Energy sells its 50% interest in DPS AGL Energy has sold its 50% equity interest in the Diamantina Power Station (DPS) to its joint venture partner APA Group. Image credit: AGL Energy Facebook page According to the ASX release by the energy retail giant, the sale price of $151 million represents a small premium to the book value of the investment and is in line with the company’s target to sell $1 billion of non-core assets by the end of next year. “As a non-National Electricity Market connected generator, DPS is not a strategic asset to AGL,” said the company’s Chief Executive Officer Brett Redman. “Its sale represents a major milestone in meeting one of our key targets to realise $1 billion in asset sales.” DPS is located in Mt Isa and comprises the 242 MW combined cycle gas turbine Diamantina Power Station and the 60 MW open cycle gas turbine Leichhardt Power Station, serving its foundation customers Glencore and Ergon. AGL said it will continue to supply gas to DPS under the existing gas sales agreement which runs to 2023. The sale is expected to be finalised by the end of March 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Anglo American on the hunt for new CFO

Anglo American is creating plans for a new finance director as the company continues its ‘radical restructure’ plan.

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Junior miners spooked by port privatisation bill

A proposal to privatise the Utah Point iron ore port was criticised as creating uncertainty for junior miners who currently use the port.

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Anglo American on the hunt for new CFO

Anglo American is creating plans for a new finance director as the company continues its ‘radical restructure’ plan.

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Swick wins mining contracts

Swick has been awarded two new underground mining contracts.

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Solomon Islands issues apology to Axiom Resources

The Solomon Islands government has retracted a statement issued last week which made implications about the conduct of Australian miner Axiom Resources.

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Which are the world’s best mining schools?

The latest edition of the World University Rankings has released its new findings based on university subjects and for the first time highlighted mining, showing which are the world’s top 100 mining schools.

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Australian Made welcomes call for collaborative branding of food in export markets The Australian Made Campaign has welcomed last week’s comments made by Fortescue Metals Chairman, Andrew Forrest, at the prestigious Boao Forum for Asia on China’s Hainan Island, who called for Australia’s food and agriculture sectors to collaborate more closely to promote their products using a ‘Brand Australia’ strategy. Australian Made Paper. Image: http://ift.tt/1UXyxf6 “The power of consistent branding, both here and overseas, cannot be overstated,” said Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Mr Ian Harrison. He said the already well-established Australian Made, Australian Grown logo should form part of the food labelling system envisioned by Mr Forrest, to provide consumers with a guarantee of the true origin of the food they are purchasing. “The iconic green-and-gold kangaroo logo has been clearly identifying Australian produce in export markets for 30 years with great success, so there is a pivotal role for the symbol to play in any ‘Brand Australia’ strategy,” Mr Harrison said. “Australia enjoys a strong reputation internationally for its clean, green environment and high standards for the production of food, so it makes sense to place a strong emphasis on promoting the Australian brand and defending the authenticity of food supplied from this country.” Australian Manufacturing

Airbus introduces new cabin brand dubbed “Airspace by Airbus” Airbus has officially launched its new cabin brand “Airspace by Airbus” which was designed to maximise both passenger wellbeing and airline operations. Image credit: www.airbus.com The company also announced the new cabin for the forthcoming A330neo airliner, which embodies Airspace by Airbus and is inspired by the cabin of its Widebody sibling, the new A350 XWB in service. “Airbus’ history of success is down to innovation – which has always included the cabin as a key driver. With the great passenger feedback on the A350 XWB, and our application of A350 cabin technology and features to the A330neo, we are proud to embrace our cabin design principles through our new brand – Airspace by Airbus,” said Dr Kiran Rao, Airbus’ Executive Vice President of Strategy and Marketing. “The new A330neo is the launch vehicle for this brand, which along with the A350 XWB begins a new family of Airbus cabins. These will inspire and empower airlines to build the next generation of personalized flying experience for their passengers, while and at the same time optimizing the economic performance of their aircraft space.” According to the company, Airbus cabins encompass four key dimensions: Comfort, Ambience, Service and Design – all designed to stimulate a unique and leading passenger experience. These new cabins will feature larger overhead storage bins, spacious and contemporary lavatories, wider seats & aisles, and unobstructed under-seat foot space. All Airspace cabins will incorporate consistently recognisable signature design elements, which include the latest LED technology ambient lighting, clean, straight lines and shapes, clear surfaces, and also a unique, customisable welcome area. Australian Manufacturing

Lockheed Martin unveils upgraded MK 41 VLS production line Lockheed Martin has unveiled an upgraded MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) production line at it Middle River facility in Maryland. Image credit: http://ift.tt/mBiDV4 The MK 41 VLS program supports more than 150 highly skilled jobs in the Baltimore under a $235.3 million contract that the company signed with the US Navy in 2014 for continued VLS production. The new production contract saw Lockheed Martin design and implement a new, modern production line which is equipped with 80 new tools that enable optimised production flow and build on the line’s more than 30 year on-time delivery record. According to the company, the need for modernisation became necessary after Lockheed Martin secured a contract to reestablish deck and hatch production at its Middle River site after more than 20 years. “We are proud to continue manufacturing the MK 41 VLS in Baltimore County and bringing this critical capability to the fleets of the US Navy and its allies,” said Stephanie C. Hill, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Ship & Aviation Systems business. “In partnership with the US Navy, we have been delivering, modernising and supporting the MK 41 VLS system for more than 30 years. We, along with our suppliers in Maryland and all over the nation, look forward to continuing to serve our customer with this critical national defence capability.” The MK 41 VLS is the only launching system capable of launching anti-air, anti-submarine, surface-to-surface and strike missiles and can receive orders from multiple weapon control systems to handle every warfighting mission. The MK 41 VLS fires a wide range of missiles, primarily off US Navy cruisers and destroyers, and has been combat proven with more than 3,850 successful firings worldwide and a more than 99% success rate. The system has been integrated and in service with the US and 12 allied navies on nearly 200 ships representing 20 ship classes. Australian Manufacturing

RMIT scientists develop revolutionary thin film technology that speeds up data transfer RMIT researchers have successfully created a nanostructured thin film that selectively filters light, significantly increasing the bandwidth of optical communication systems. Image credit: www.rmit.edu.au According to the press release by RMIT, researchers from the School of Engineering plan to commercialise optical communication technology that will accelerate the development of next-gen networks that use existing optical fibres to seamlessly deliver high-resolution videos and other data-heavy content to a larger number of users. The expansion of the internet and smartphones saw dramatic increase in communication traffic, presenting optical component and circuit designers with the need to meet requirements for delivering increased performance and functionality, while continually reducing costs and size. Communication companies face significant technology limitations to achieve the cost and integration levels that are required for next-gen optical systems for consumer electronics (e.g. optical data storage, digital imaging and display), industrial optics (e.g. sensors and control systems), and optical communications applications (e.g. transceivers and optical routing). Dr Jiao Lin, Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow in the School of Engineering, said the research project aimed to overcome these barriers by developing a nanostructured thin film that selectively filters light based on the polarisation of electromagnetic radiation. He explained that the team used a methodology to transmit the light down a very thin fibre of glass to the detector. “The detector then converts the pulses of light into equivalent electrical pulses. In this way the data can be transmitted as light over great distances. Applying this nanostructured thin film onto photodiodes in optical communication systems will significantly increase the bandwidth of optical communication systems by as much as 100 per cent,” Dr Lin said. “There are currently no commercially available solutions that specifically enable the filtering of light, based on its elliptically polarized state, that are easy to manufacture through lithography and are scalable for commercial purposes. The nanostructured thin film also allows for easy integration with current optical communication systems.” According to Mr Lin, the technology is the subject of a patent application and further development to explore new applications. Australian Manufacturing

New welding software monitors machine performance for productivity and cost efficiencies

Technological advances have led to the development of new generations of welding machines designed to deliver greater performance, precision, energy efficiency, cost effectiveness and safety.

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Alinta Energy to boost reliability of Aussie and New Zealand power plants with GE’s robotic inspection tools GE’s Power Services business has inked a deal with Alinta Energy which will see the world’s digital industrial company deploy advanced robotic inspection tools to inspect Alinta’s power plants in Australia and New Zealand. GE’s TurboRotoscan inspection systemImage credit: GE According to the official announcement, GE will deploy its DIRIS* and TurboRotoscan inspection systems to inspect 19 generators manufactured by GE, Alstom, Mitsubishi and Brush at seven of Alinta Energy’s gas-fired power plants in Australia and New Zealand. The project was developed through GE’s Alstom power generation business, which it acquired in November 2015. The inspections are scheduled to commence next month and will be performed through 2020. “We worked closely with GE’s team and our insurance company to demonstrate the benefits of the DIRIS and TurboRotoscan technologies for ensuring effective generator inspections,” said Gareth Williams, manager, engineering services—power generation, Alinta Energy. GE’s DIRIS inspection systemImage credit: GE “Proving the technology’s reliability was important because the generator monitoring system provides the current condition of the generator and indicates any issues or early warnings of failures. It also provides us with greater flexibility as the inspection work can be done while the generator rotor remains in place. The biggest win for us was the ability to use this technology on non-GE units and apply it across our whole fleet. This makes such inspections quicker and easier to perform and is endorsed as a best practice by our insurance company, which indicates that most generator claims arise through rotor removal and replacement activities.” Australian Manufacturing

Melbourne start-up MecRx secures $4 million investment to accelerate anti-cancer drugs discovery A risk-sharing agreement with CSIRO saw Melbourne start-up biotech company MecRx secure a $4 million investment from the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) to advance its breakthrough technology for accelerating drug discovery. Image credit: www.csiro.au CSIRO said it is assisting MecRx in validating its technology platform, which is being used to create promising starting points for new anti-cancer drugs. Under the agreement, CSIRO shared the research and development costs in return for a mixture of milestone payments and shares in MecRx, based on their success. MecRx board director Dr Chris Smith said the CSIRO risk-sharing agreement, coupled with a Victorian government Innovation Voucher, allowed MecRx to secure the significant MRCF investment. “MecRx is a shining example of how the research and commercial sector can work together to accelerate Australian innovation and make a significant commercial impact,” Mr Smith said. “CSIRO and the Victorian government were crucial in getting our technology off the ground – without their funding support and expertise the idea would never have been tested and the huge potential our platform offers for new drug discovery would have gone unrealised.” MecRx and CSIRO have now teamed up with the world-leading Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to develop and test a promising drug lead for inhibiting the biological target cMyc – a key driver of destructive cell mutation in many cancers. CSIRO’s chemistry group leader, Dr Jack Ryan, said scientists had yet to find an effective way to successfully inhibit cMyc. According to him, if successful, the drug could be tested in cancer patients within a few years. “We’re delighted to see this work translated to drug development, which we hope will ultimately lead to clinical trails through our partners at Peter Mac and commercialisation of the world’s first cMyc drug,” Dr Ryan said. Peter Mac’s associate director for laboratory research, Professor Ricky Johnstone, said he was optimistic about the initial cMyc drug results. “The drug lead directly targets cMyc, a protein which causes cancerous cells from a wide range of organs and tissues to divide uncontrollably,” Professor Johnstone said. “If successful, the resulting medicine would have broad application in a large number of cancers.” Australian Manufacturing

ULA Atlas V Rocket launches with Stratasys’ 3D printed parts on board 3D printing giant Stratasys continues to push the boundaries of additive manufacturing with the serial production of 3D printed parts for United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocked which launched last week from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Image credit: investors.stratasys.com The company 3D printed numerous components for the Atlas V ducting system in the rocket’s payload fairing, including brackets, nozzles, and panel close-outs. The parts were 3D printed in ULTEM™ 9085 on a Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer, highlighting the ability of additive manufacturing to replace metal components with 3D printed lightweight thermoplastic parts. Greg Arend, ULA manager, Additive Manufacturing, said Stratasys’ additive manufacturing solutions allowed for design flexibility and unique material properties to optimise parts that can withstand the harsh launch environment. He said the technology also resulted in substantial cost and time benefits in comparison to traditional manufacturing methods. “Stratasys continues to be a great supplier to ULA, supporting our Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles. Our partnership has enabled Stratasys to bring parts such as tooling and support equipment into ULA’s factory in Decatur, Alabama to help us build rockets,” Mr Arend added. Scott Sevcik, Director, Business Development – Aerospace & Defense at Stratasys said the company was delighted to be working with ULA with the aim of advancing the technology for further use in spacecraft. “It’s been impressive to see how ULA has innovated with industrial 3D printing, and we are excited to continue working with them to push the technology further,” Mr Sevcik said, adding that Stratasys will be exhibiting its additive manufacturing capabilities at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO, on April 11-14, 2016. Australian Manufacturing

Cardia Bioplastics secures US patent protection for its foam products and processes SECOS Group Limited has announced that Cardia Bioplastics, its wholly owned subsidiary, has secured patent protection of its foam products and processes from the US Patent and Trademark Office. Image credit: SECOS Group ASX release The new patent – which was granted for Cardia’s Biohybrid resin formulations tailored to protective packaging foam applications – expands the company’s growing intellectual property portfolio of 11 patent families, with 20 patents so far granted in USA, Europe, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. Commenting on the news, Cardia Bioplastic’s CEO, Dr Frank Glatz, said the patent protects the composition and manufacturing process invented by the company’s R&D team. “This marks an important milestone for Cardia Bioplastics as granted patents further support the technical differentiation of our Cardia Biohybrid and Compostable product offering and protect the intellectual property of the company,” Mr Glatz added. “Cardia is collaborating with leading global brand owners to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. Cardia’s Biohybrid technology enables them to reduce the carbon footprint and the use of less oil in their packaging with an environmental benefit whilst maintaining product performance. Cardia’s strong patent position and freedom to operate is a critical requirement for these large global brand owners.” SECOS Group Chairman, Mr Richard Tegoni, said the continual expansion of Cardia’s patent portfolio validated the company’s technical capabilities and unique formulations. “Protecting Cardia’s intellectual property is a high priority as it supports our businesses long-term growth strategy of creating new Compostable and Biohybrid resins that meet the needs of the growing market for resins and finished products,” Mr Tegoni concluded. SECOS was formed in April 2015 by the merger of the business operations of Cardia Bioplastics Limited and the Stellar Films Group of companies. The Group has manufacturing plants in Australia, Malaysia and China and a global sales and distribution network in 27 countries. Australian Manufacturing

ARENA and CEFC welcome establishment of Clean Energy Innovation Fund The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) have welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement that it will retain both climate action bodies whose existence was brought into question under the regime of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Image credit: http://arena.gov.au/ ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht described the decision as a “vote of confidence in ARENA and the CEFC”. “ARENA’s investment track record speaks for itself. We look for at least matched funding and co-investment in the projects we support, and each dollar of ARENA funding has leveraged approximately 1.5 dollars of funding from other sources,” Mr Frischknecht said. The proposed changes to the functioning of ARENA and CEFC include the establishment of a new Clean Energy Innovation Fund which will be jointly managed by the two agencies. The fund will be financed by loans rather than from federal budget allocations, but ARENA will continue to manage its existing portfolio of projects and deliver its $100 million large-scale solar round before it shifts its balance from a primarily grant based role to more of a debt and equity basis from 1 July 2016. “ARENA and the CEFC have a long history of successfully working together to advance the deployment of renewable energy technologies in Australia and the new Fund will enable us to build on our efforts to date,” Mr Frischknecht added. “The roles of ARENA and CEFC are distinct but complementary and ARENA looks forward to continuing to work with the CEFC to manage the $1 billion CEIF to commercialise innovative renewable energy projects using equity and debt instruments as a key part of the Australian Government’s forward-facing clean energy agenda.” The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) also welcomed the new $1 billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1cf8Hxn The CEFC CEO Oliver Yates said the proposed changes will see the agencies draw on their complementary experience and expertise, providing both debt and equity for clean energy projects. “The creation of the CEIF will help innovative entrepreneurial companies build their commercial strength, so they can make a positive contribution to the Australian economy and our national emissions challenge,” he said “The CEFC is a flexible policy tool. The CEFC is pleased to be able to assist Government in supporting complementary initiatives and policies through Investment Mandates that are consistent with the CEFC Act. Innovation and entrepreneurial business activity is vital across all sectors of the Australian economy, especially in growth sectors such as clean energy, energy efficiency and low emissions solutions.” Australian Manufacturing

ABB signs multi-year contract to provide equipment and services for world’s largest floating facility Global technology company ABB has been awarded a five-year contract by Shell to deliver equipment and services for the company’s Prelude FLNG project. Shell’s innovative Prelude FLNG facility Image credit: www.shell.com.au Under the contract, ABB will deliver motors, generators, variable speed drives and low-voltage switchgear, with guaranteed service and lifecycle management of the electrical equipment as well as service and support for motors from third-party vendors. The company will also provide a spare parts inventory, workshop repairs and training on top of round-the-clock technical support both over the phone and on-site. According to the press release by ABB, spare parts and replacement systems are being procured this year, with training to begin soon after. “A reliable service network is crucial for the facility’s productivity. Prelude will be equipped with ABB’s integrated marine solutions for optimal reliability, flexibility and energy efficiency to assure higher profitability,” said Pekka Tiitinen, president of ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division. “In line with our Next Level strategy of business-led collaboration various ABB businesses will work together to mobilize the strength and experience of our entire global service organisation.” The Prelude FLNG development in Australia will be Shell’s first deployment of its FLNG technology, which allows for the production, liquefaction, storage and transfer of LNG at sea, as well as the ability to process and export liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and condensate. Prelude will be located in the Browse Basin, approximately 475km north-northeast of Broome and over 200 km from the nearest point on the coast of the remote Kimberley region, in Western Australia. Once towed to its location off the northwest coast of Australia, it will be attached to the underwater infrastructure and will remain there for up to 25 years, producing approximately 3.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate and 0.4 mtpa of LPG for export. Australian Manufacturing

Axiom Mining loses Solomon Islands nickel lease

Axiom Mining’s licences over a nickel laterite deposit on the Solomon Islands has been set aside, ending another chapter in the five-year running dispute over land leasing.

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Going green in the Hunter

Innovative cattle grazing trials are providing a viable option for post-mined land.

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Glencore sees coal mine safety fine doubled

Glencore’s Bulga coal mine has had a fine doubled on appeal after being convicted of breaching work safety conditions.

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Woodside puts Browse Basin FLNG on ice

In a fresh blow to Western Australian coffers, Woodside has announced it will not move forward with the Browse basin floating LNG project.

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Woodside puts Browse Basin FLNG on ice

In a fresh blow to Western Australian coffers, Woodside has announced it will not move forward with the Browse basin floating LNG project.

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Rare Earths: driven by magnetic applications and diversity in supply

Australia is pivoting its economy away from resources like coal and iron ore, but are there other commodities we can bank on to take up some of the slack? In this “future commodities” series we explore the economic future for commodities we’ve always relied on, and some we haven’t.

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Truck productivity improves with new RigScan audit

Atlas Copco’s new RigScan audits find success after Perilya’s Broken Hill operation books seven additional audits following initial trial.

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Mining supplier satisfaction levels rising

New reports show miners’ satisfaction levels have risen since the beginning of 2014.

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High-tech agri-business opens new HQ in Hobart Tasmanian Minister for Information Technology and Innovation Michael Ferguson has officially opened The Yield’s new Tasmanian office in Hobart. Image credit: http://ift.tt/yftkXjby Stoonn Founded just a year ago, The Yield provides a complete business solution to the agriculture and agriculture industries using the latest sensors, data management software and user-friendly apps delivered via the cloud. Commenting on the occasion, Minister Ferguson said the startup has already raised $2 million in investment and won a prestigious Accelerating Commercialisation grant, highlighting Tasmania’s capacity for innovation and confidence to invest. Not only does The Yield employ 7 Tasmanians, there are already plans for further growth. The Yield is a great example of an innovative start-up which has combined leading edge technology with one of our traditional strengths – agriculture,” the Minister said. “We want to see more great ideas become viable, job creating businesses. That is why the Hodgman Liberal Government is investing $500,000 towards establishing Entrepreneurship and Incubation Hubs in partnership with the University of Tasmania. Through encouraging and supporting Tasmanian entrepreneurs we have an opportunity to create higher value jobs for Tasmania and drive economic growth well into the future.” Australian Manufacturing

Woodside halts Browse LNG project development Woodside has decided to halt the development of its multi-billion Browse LNG project off the Kimberley coast following a comprehensive and rigorous review of the project. Image credit: Woodside Facebook page The company announced that its efforts to deliver targeted cost savings and value enhancements were offset by collapsing oil prices and difficult market environment, prompting the joint venture partners to shelve the project for the time being. Woodside CEO Peter Coleman described the decision to discontinue the development of the project as “a disciplined approach” to large-scale capital investment. He said the company and its JV partners will now work to prepare a new work program and budget to progress development activities. “Woodside remains committed to the earliest commercial development of the world-class Browse resources and to FLNG as the preferred solution, but the economic environment is not supportive of major LNG investment at this time” Mr Coleman said. “Accordingly, we will use the additional time to pursue further capital efficiencies for Browse.” Woodside hold 30.6% interest in the Browse resources located offshore approximately 425 km north of Broome in Western Australia. The remaining interest in the projects is held by Browse JV participants Shell Australia Pty Ltd (27.00%), BP (17.00%), Japan Australia LNG (14.40%) and PetroChina International Investment (10.67%). Australian Manufacturing

Proposed ARENA & CEFC merger would threaten solar projects in QLD, according to Minister Queensland’s Energy Minister Mark Bailey has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull following reports that the Turnbull government is considering a plan to merge the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Image courtesy of [dan] / FreeDigitalPhotos.netMr Bailey branded the Prime Minister as a “great disappointment” for those hoping for action on renewable energy, saying the proposal to merge the two climate action bodies would result in a $1.3 billion cut in solar energy grant funding. “The agency is a key partner of the Queensland Government in delivering renewable energy projects and jobs to the state. If ARENA loses all its capability for grant funding from a merge with CEFC, that is a very negative outcome for large scale solar in Queensland,” he said. “There are solar projects ready to go in Queensland. Continued Federal Government support is needed to see these projects get off the ground. Many of these projects will not go ahead if the Prime Minister succeeds with his changes. It is yet another unwelcome change to the financial arrangements in the renewable energy sector, and means the investment strike will continue. Reports have indicated that the combined entity would be financed by loans rather than from federal budget allocations, which according to Mr Bailey would greatly restrict ARENA’s capacity to support large scale solar projects in the state. “Today’s announcement of a new Innovation Fund offering debt and equity products comes at the expense of ARENA’s existing grant based role being axed, which is vital for the sector,” the Minister concluded. Australian Manufacturing

Updated Toyota 86 to be showcased at New York Show Toyota Australia announced that it will unveil an updated version of the country’s bestselling sports car – the Toyota 86 – at this year’s New York International Auto Show running from 25 March to 3 April. Image credit: www.toyota.com The car maker, which will also debut its revised seven-seat Kluger SUV at the event, said the updated Toyota 86 features a revised exterior and interior design, as well as improvements to its suspension and powertrain. “Re-configured LED headlamps incorporate new indicators, sitting above redesigned fog lamp bezels and a revised bumper. At the rear, there are sports LED tail lamps and a new bumper. The alloy wheel design has been refreshed, and the 86 logo has shifted to a stand-alone badge on the front fender, as well as inside the front headlamps,” Toyota said in a press release. “On the inside, the high-grade GTS features a new, soft-feel ‘Grandlux’ material (reprising the 86 logo) on the instrument panel surround and door trims. GTS drivers will also enjoy new seating material with silver stitching, as well as a steering wheel with integrated audio controls. In regard to the changes to the suspension and the powertrain, Toyota stated the following: “Under the skin, a revised suspension tune focuses on shock absorber and spring rates, while on manual variants additional performance comes from a gear ratio change as well as increases to torque (+9Nm) and peak power (+4kW), with Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) helping prevent the car from rolling back on steep hills,” reads the press release. Tony Cramb, Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing said the Toyota 86 has captured the imagination of Australia car enthusiasts since launching in mid-2012. “With sales in excess of 16,000** units in Australia to date, the 86 has been a phenomenal success,” Mr Cramb said. “A pure focus on dynamic response and driver engagement has struck a chord with its growing fan base, and this 86 update is sure to add further fuel to that fire.” According to the company, the revised Toyota 86 will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year. Australian Manufacturing

Perilya confirms up to 100 jobs to go

Broken Hill’s Perilya’s Southern Operations will cut between 90 and 100 positions from the historic silver, lead and zinc mine.

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Hexagon releases new complete activity scheduling and stockpile management software

Hexagon Mining has released the latest version of their Atlas software featuring a powerful optimisation engine. Hexagon Mining’s complete package for activity scheduling and stockpile managemen

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Iluka Resources managing director to stand down

Managing director David Robb is soon to end ten years at the helm of mineral sands major Iluka Resources.

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Hastings Deering to cut workers

Hastings Deering is cutting jobs less than six months after it carried out a major round of redundancies.

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Ulan coal mine sees underground approvals

Glencore’s Ulan coal mine has received the greenlight for a modification application to expand its underground mine.

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Two more cases of black lung reported in Qld

The Queensland CFMEU has reported two more workers have black lung, taking the state total to eight confirmed cases of coal miners’ pneumoconiosis since December last year.

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More charges laid over Mt Lyell mine deaths

Mount Lyell mine operator Copper Mines of Tasmania, and its general manager Scot Clyde, are facing more charges over a string of deaths at the site.

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Graphite: to capitalise Australia needs to invest in conversion

Australia is pivoting its economy away from dependence on resources like coal and iron ore, but are there other commodities we can bank on to take up some of the slack? In this “future commodities” series we explore the economic future for commodities we’ve always relied on, and some we haven’t.

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Lockheed Martin finalises integration of Energy portfolio Global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin has combined its energy products and technologies into a single commercial line of business which will be known as Lockheed Martin Energy. Image credit: Lockheed Martin Facebook page According to Lockheed, the new, integrated business now offers a comprehensive line of energy solutions, including: Energy Management: Systems and solutions to improve the transmission, distribution and usage of power for utilities, commercial enterprises and government agencies. Energy Storage: Turn-key energy storage systems for commercial, industrial and utility applications. Nuclear Systems: Instrumentation and control systems to ensure safety of commercial and government nuclear power programs. Ocean Technologies: Renewable energy generation by harnessing the tides and temperature gradients. Bioenergy: Innovative systems to convert biomass and waste into energy. Frank Armijo, the newly appointed vice president of Lockheed Martin Energy, said the integrated business would help grow the Lockheed Martin Energy brand. “For decades, we have been investing in smart, natural and safe energy technologies,” said Mr Armijo, who previously served in various leadership roles within the company’s energy, technology integration, strategy and business development segments. “With our broad energy capabilities now under a single organisation, we’ll focus our business growth strategy, enhance collaboration, advance new technology – and ultimately build Lockheed Martin Energy into a true leader in the expanding energy market.” Based in Grand Prairie, Texas, Lockheed Martin Energy has nearly 1,000 employees worldwide and is aligned under Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business area. Australian Manufacturing

Byron Group and Ferno unveil Smart Ambulance in Sydney Australia’s leading ambulance manufacturer Bayron Group has joined forces with emergency care solutions provider Ferno to create a world-leading ambulance that will transmit real-time information about patients to hospital emergency. Image credit: http://ift.tt/1RhP0IK The Smart Ambulance was unveiled last week at a technology forum at Byron’s Smithfield plant in Sydney, which was attended by representatives of ambulance services from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, WA, SA, NT, Tasmania, Vietnam, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and Ireland. Byron’s CEO Glen Walker said the Smart Ambulance was designed to provide a safer working environment for paramedics, more efficient fleet management for ambulance services and improved communications about patient conditions with hospitals. He said latest innovations in ambulance engineering will have a profound impact on improving patient care in medical emergencies. “Hospital emergency departments will be able to track changes in the patient’s condition in real time like never before. The ambulance will transmit the patient’s vital information such as ECG readings and cameras inside the ambulance will enable the hospital to view the patient while in transit,” Mr Walker stated. “When the ambulance arrives at the hospital, they will already know the patient’s condition. The improved data flow between the ambulance in transit and the hospital will save valuable time in the triage process where seconds are critical.” The Smart Ambulance features in-vehicle technology that improves patient experience, paramedic safety and fleet management. This advanced technology includes Ferno’s iNX Integrated Patient Transfer and Loading System™, Ferno’s iNTRAXX™ Integrated Vehicle Component System™, and the company’s ACETECH Integrated Vehicle Intelligence System™. Mr Walker said the design of the Smart Ambulance was tailored to ensure the wellbeing of both paramedics and patients. “Ferno’s vehicle component system is designed to secure loose equipment inside the ambulance through track-mounted, magnetic pouches containing supplies and equipment. This allows paramedics to deliver patient care from a seated, restrained position, reducing the risk of injury from standing up in a moving vehicle to access supplies,” Mr Walker added. “The Smart Ambulance will have a duress system activation accessible from anywhere in the vehicle or by the paramedic’s personal device that activates 360 degree digital video recording, in-car voice warnings, and distress texts to multiple agencies with vehicle identification and location. The vehicle itself becomes a safe haven for ambulance officers as the Smart Ambulance is also fitted with security entry glass.” Joe Bourgraf, US-based President and CEO at Ferno, said the Smart Ambulance was at the “cutting edge globally” of on-board vehicle intelligence, patient care and safety standards for paramedics. “It provides a highly flexible and modular system that can fit any vehicle type and size and can meet many different operating environments such as accident scenes, fires and other emergencies,” he added. “Both Ferno and Byron are leaders in the emergency medical services market. Together we are setting new standards in innovation and technology.” Australian Manufacturing

Australia’s leading trailer manufacturer goes solar Australia’s premier trailer manufacturer Vawdrey has moved forward with the implementation of its long-term strategy for growth with the installation of a new solar energy system at its Dandenong facility in Victoria. Image credit: vawdrey.com.au National Sales Director Paul Vawdrey said his father – company founder Mick Vawdrey – has always been equally driven by achieving business success as by creating a carbon-neutral business, so moving to solar power was just a matter of time. “It’s always been Mick’s goal to lessen our impact on the environment by significantly reducing our carbon footprint,” he explained. “Now we are in a position to turn his vision into reality and save costs at the same time.” He said the new 750-kilowatt energy system, which has been installed across Vawdrey’s 15,000m² main factory, as well as its repair shop and panel building facilities, will allow the company to generate its own electricity and thereby drastically reduce its carbon footprint. “It’s great to see my father’s goals finally being achieved. But that’s just one aspect of the project, as we believe it will also give us a huge advantage over our competitors in reducing emissions and our overall environmental impact, which is such an important consideration for any large-scale manufacturing business these days,” Mr Vawdrey added. The job of installing the 3,000-plus solar panels was awarded to Western Australian company Sun Connect, which begun installation in late October and completed the work within three months. “Mick Vawdrey has a strong position on environmental performance, and we could tell from the moment we sat down with him that he was passionate about making a difference,” said Mark Tuke, founder and Director of Sun Connect. “The system collects the sun during daylight hours and converts the DC energy absorbed into AC current, which is immediately fed to inverters and then dispersed across to the Vawdrey buildings.” Mr Vawdrey said the financial benefits of installing the new solar energy system became instantly noticeable, with reduced electricity costs and network charges adding to the reduction in carbon emissions. “We can already see savings on our power bills. Over the next five years, we’ll quickly see a major return on investment,” Paul noted. He said the Sun Connect solar-powered panels boast a minimum 25-year service life, which includes full maintenance and backup service warranty for the first seven years. “Mick sees the system as a long-term investment for our business, which will eventually pay for itself. It’s testament to his larger vision for the Vawdrey business and the Australian transport equipment industry in general. He definitely doesn’t just sees us as trailer builders, but also considers our responsibility as a local leader to drive innovation and keep the industry clean and green,” he continued. “Our solar energy system now makes for one of the largest solar-powered systems ever built in Victoria, which is an enormous statement in that regard and should not be underestimated. In the long run, technology like this will not only help modernise Vawdrey Australia, but help the entire industry improve and evolve on every level.” Australian Manufacturing

Imagine IM to build Australia’s first commercial graphene manufacturing facility Australian graphene solutions company Imagine Intelligent Materials (Imagine IM) has contracted Geelong-based Austeng to build the country’s first commercial graphene manufacturing plant which will have an output capacity of up to 10 tonnes per annum. Image credit: Imagine.com Phil Aitchison, COO and head of R&D at Imagine IM, said the contract was awarded to Austeng because of their experience in migrating research processes out of the lab and into production. “We believe that they have the engineering skills and support services to work with us to build Australia’s first commercial graphene production facility. The pilot plant will be used to bed-down our proprietary production processes and to supply Imagine IM’s domestic customers in 2016 and 2017,” Mr Aitchison said. “It will lay the foundation for our expansion, both domestically and internationally, where we anticipate a need for well over 100 tonnes of graphene per year within the next four years.” Ross George, MD of Austeng, said the company was “delighted” to take on the job of developing Australia’s first commercial graphene manufacturing plant. “We have developed plants for a number of Australia’s leading research universities. Austeng has a depth of experience of how to deliver highly innovative equipment utilising new technology,” Mr George stated. “We hope this will be the beginning of Austeng working closely with Imagine IM to develop industrial equipment that will be able to be exported to the world.” Imagine IM CEO, Mr Chris Gilbey said the company plans to use two tonnes of this graphene for products aimed at customers in Australian manufacturing, with further opportunity for graphene supply to be identified once commercial graphene capacity is in place. According to him, the growing interest in commercial applications for graphene will see the global market for graphene products reach $1.3 billion by 2023. “Graphene is now being viewed as a strategic resource in most of the industrial economies of the world. We believe that Imagine IM is positioned at the forefront of developing commercially viable graphene solutions,” Mr Gilbey said. “Our focus is on developing solutions for large scale manufacturers that will integrate into their supply chains with relative ease and without requiring our customers to need to invest in new capex. This first plant is going to be a major step in us building supply for our own customers and achieving global competitiveness.” Australian Manufacturing

Ichthys LNG workers push for shorter roster

Following protests last week, Northern Territory union branches have indicated they will step up their efforts to lobby for a 3/1 roster at Inpex’s Ichthys LNG project.

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Calls for economic rezoning of Mt Isa

The Queensland Resources Council has called for establishment of a north-west economic zone, aiming at the cabinet jobs committee visit to Mt Isa today.

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Curtin Uni software optimises waste dumping [Video]

Curtin University continues to live up to its expectations in Australia’s biggest mining state with a venture into the mining software market.

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Connecting your company in an age of connected products

What is manufactured as well as how it’s manufactured are both changing – and fast – and the race is on to adopt smart innovation.

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Santos makes management changes

Santos has joined the ranks of companies looking to implement change in management, with incoming CEO Kevin Gallagher making new cuts.

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A new guard? [opinion]

Mining is entering a new era, but will this mean a new era of leaders too?

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Lithium: Australia needs to recycle and lease to be part of the boom

Australia is pivoting its economy away from resources like coal and iron ore, but are there other commodities we can bank on to take up some of the slack? In this “future commodities” series we explore the economic future for commodities we’ve always relied on, and some we haven’t.

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Fonterra to pull plug on Kaikoura operations New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra last week confirmed the permanent closure of its Kaikoura cheese factory following the conclusion of staff consultation. Image credit: fonterra.com The company said that Kaikoura’s cheese volumes will be split between Fonterra’s Lichfield, Clandeboye, Stirling and Whareroa cheese plants, where cheese production is “up to 16 percent more cost effective” than at Kaikoura. Mark Leslie, Director New Zealand Manufacturing, said the decision to close the site would bring significant cost savings for the business and its 10,500 farmer shareholders. “While it is difficult for the people involved, we have a responsibility to our farmer shareholders and unit holders, and our customers to be as efficient as possible across our business, especially given the low milk price,” he said. “We are conscious that this is a difficult time for some local farmers, staff and their families, and the wider Kaikoura community. We are doing what we can to support them through this change.” Fonterra’s Kaikoura site employs 22 full time staff and typically operates between three to five months a year. The company said that around half of the site staff have indicated that they would be interested in redeployment elsewhere in the Co-operative. “While we obviously would prefer to retain all of our staff, for those who are interested in moving on we will be providing assistance in their search for new roles outside of the business,” Mr Leslie concluded. According to Fonterra, the site will close in mid to late April. Australian Manufacturing

Government introduces new anti-dumping measures to protect local steel industry The Australian Government has implemented anti-circumvention measures against foreign steel importers following an investigation by the Anti-Dumping Commission. Bluescope Steel-for-Pipelines In announcing the new measures on Friday, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne said the decisions would “prevent certain steel exporters” in China, Taiwan and Malaysia from exploiting the loophole in anti-dumping regulations and avoid paying Australian duties by making minor changes to their products. “When foreign suppliers try to get around Australian anti-dumping duties, in this case by substituting selected steel products with alloyed for unalloyed steel, this Government is committed to action,” Mr Pyne said. “We are a world leader in fighting the avoidance, or circumvention, of anti-dumping measures. The Australian Government will continue to work to give Australia’s Anti-Dumping Commissioner the power and capabilities he needs to ensure that local producers are not injured by unfair competition.” Assistant Minister for Science Karen Andrews said she was proud to be part of Australia’s “effective and equitable” anti-dumping process. “Our system is fair and transparent in providing support for Australian manufacturers,” Ms Andrews said. The duties will apply for alloyed galvanised steel (ranging from 2.6 per cent to 62.9 per cent), as well as for alloyed hollow structural sections (ranging from 3 per cent to 57.1 per cent). Australian Manufacturing

First session of Victorian Automotive Transition Taskforce held The Victorian Automotive Transition Taskforce has held its first meeting on Monday with a goal of helping Victorian automotive businesses, workers and communities transition to new opportunities and secure jobs. Image credit: holdenhq.com.au The meeting was chaired by Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio, who was joined by fellow taskforce members, Minister for Employment Jacinta Allan, and Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert, along with representatives from Ford, Holden, Toyota, unions and industry groups. Also attending the meeting were local MPs, who will chair local automotive transition taskforces that will provide advice on emerging issues affecting communities most impacted by the closure of the car manufacturers – particularly Melbourne’s North, West, South-East and Geelong. Ms D’Ambrosio said the taskforce was established to help oversee the implementation of Victoria’s Automotive Transition Plan, which includes: $5 million Automotive Supply Chain Transition Program to help businesses identify and capture new opportunities in other markets $33 million Local Industry Fund for Transition to support communities hit hard by the departure of Ford, Holden and Toyota $8.4 million to strengthen skills, training and job search support in Melbourne’s South-East Up to $7,000 incentive payments for businesses employing retrenched auto workers Minister for Employment Jacinta Allan said the end of car-making in Victoria required resolute actions to help affected workers prepare for the future. “As our economy changes, we cannot leave these workers and their families behind. We need to help them adapt and find new jobs, which is what this taskforce is all about,” she said. Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert said new Skills and Jobs Centres were also being established across the TAFE network, providing one-stop-shops to assist workers – including those in the auto industry – to access training and job support services. “Quality training to get the right skills is an integral part of workforce opportunities and our investment in TAFEs will help achieve that,” Mr Herbert added. Australian Manufacturing

RCR Tomlinson selected to work on Origin’s Darling Downs Solar Farm Project Australia-based RCR Tomlinson Ltd has been awarded an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract by Origin Energy to provide design and engineering expertise for Origin’s proposed large-scale solar farm in Dalby, Queensland. Image credit: www.rcrtom.com.au RCR said that upon successful completion of the ECI work, the company will enter into a Design and Construct (D&C) Contract for the development of the proposed Solar Farm. RCR’s Managing Director Dr Paul Dalgleish said the company was delighted to participate in the design and development of the major solar farm project. “Securing this ECI with Origin, against our major competitors, is a great success for RCR and confirms RCR as one of the country’s leading energy solution specialists,” he stated. “The project leverages our intellectual capital in the design and construction of large-scale energy generation assets and our experience on a recently completed solar farm project.” Origin’s Darling Downs Solar Farm Project – which has been shortlisted by ARENA to progress to the next stage of its $100 million large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) competitive round – will run on coal seam gas from reserves in the Surat Basin and will have a generation capacity of 630 MW. Australian Manufacturing

Picking diamonds in the rough

Diamond sorting has taken another step forward in precision with the field testing and release of a new X-Ray Transmission machine, currently in use only in South Africa.

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