News that China may restrict exports of solar PV wafers has focused attention on solar PV panel manufacturers, including Australia’s Tindo Solar, which rely on Chinese imported inputs. Here Richard Petterson makes the case for sustainability in solar PV manufacturing and for a bigger role for Australian industry. The term ‘circular economy’ describes the re-use…
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An apparent resurgence in the mining sector, as well as investment in product and processes has seen mining equipment supplier Austin Engineering secure a typical full year order book in the first seven months of the financial year. The Perth manufacturer said it had received orders or been awarded supply contracts for more than 210…
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By Flavio Macau, Edith Cowan University Potatoes are among Australia’s favourite vegetables. However, we are facing a shortage of processed potatoes, especially of frozen chips. Coles introduced a two-item limit for shoppers seeking frozen potato products. Fish and chip businesses are under pressure and some are outraged McDonald’s is launching a new potato product in…
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Canberra defence manufacturer Electro Optic Systems is in active negotiations to supply its remote weapon stations (RWS) and spare parts to Ukraine as it continues to resist Russian invasion. The company confirmed in an investor update that the negotiations covered a ‘significant number’ of the systems which allow troops to operate weapons such as machine…
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Composites manufacturer Quickstep is to manufacture an initial run of drone cargo aircraft for European cargo airline Dronamics. The Bankstown, Sydney company announced a contract worth up to $5.5 million to manufacture 10 of Dronamics’ Black Swan fixed-wing aircraft which are able to transport 350 kg at a distance of 2,500 km The unmanned aerial…
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With the federal government moving to reform its economic advisory body, the Productivity Commission, attention has turned to the outcome of the PC’s decades-long dominance of policy advice to the government – a fragile and narrowly-based resources-driven economy. Here, Phillip Toner and Roy Green outline why the PC must be fundamentally changed. As federal Treasurer…
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ASX-listed semiconductor company BluGlass has used the SPIE Photonics West industry conference in San Francisco to release their first collection of gallium nitride (GaN) laser products. In an announcement on Monday morning (Sydney time), BluGlass said the six products newly-available to commercial customers range across the 405, 420 and 450 nanometre wavelengths and had passed…
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Coles has opened round 11 of its Nurture Fund, which has been running since 2015 and offers grants of up to $500,000 for manufacturers and primary producers to assist development of “new market-leading products and sustainable processes and technologies.” According to a statement from the company on Monday, companies must have fewer than 50 full-time…
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Concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) company Vast Solar, and the Solar Methanol Consortium have been selected to receive $19.48 million (EUR13.2 million) from an Australian-German collaboration fund, HyGATE, to develop a world-first green methanol demonstration plant, SM1 in Port Augusta in South Australia. Methanol is the most versatile hydrogen derivative which, if produced using clean…
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ABT reveals new sales to Glencore and BHP Advanced Braking Technology has revealed new sales of its failsafe heavy vehicle braking systems to mining companies Glencore and BHP, as part of an activities report to shareholders. The Perth company said sales for Q2 FY23 were up 50.8 percent on the previous corresponding period to $3.96…
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