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