Business

“Celebrating Resilience and Innovation Among Regional Start-Ups.”

Hunter Manufacturing Awards proudly recognises outstanding start-ups. Despite encountering challenges, many Hunter entrepreneurs survive and thrive. Some pivot and many scale. Their ingenuity and initiatives only enhance the region’s manufacturing ecosystem. Lex Forsyth, CEO and Co-founder of Janus Electric, relocated from Brisbane to Berkeley Vale on the Central Coast to launch his business. The HMA outstanding start-up for 2023 aims to electrify Australia’s road transport fleet. With the push for electric vehicles on the rise, Mr Forsyth acknowledged the pressure on the trucking industry to reduce its carbon footprint. The Janus Electric team developed an electric truck conversion kit with a revolutionary exchangeable battery that takes just four minutes to swap over. Jared Lawlor and Claire Jones co-founded smart gardening company Herb Urban six years ago in inner-Newcastle Islington. Mr Lawlor is an electrical engineer and Ms Jones a communications strategist. Herb Urban’s core business is to help people more easily grow their own vegetables. Since commencing operations, Mr Lawlor and Ms Jones used the technology underpinning Herb Urban to start another business, Cloud Grow, which delivers those technology solutions to other companies for green infrastructure products. Janus Electric acknowledges the opportunities the Hunter and Central Coast offer, and is keen to retain, upskill, and attract workers and people. “There are high school students and young men and women who don’t need to go to university,” Mr Forsyth says. “We have to look at TAFE and skills courses and how we attract the younger generation. Particularly those who want to stay in the area.” When Janus Electric commenced as a Central Coast start-up, it had a good base team, which has expanded over the past four years. Mr Forsyth estimates he will need to hire between 200 and 300 employees for his manufacturing plant over the next five years and […]

Arrow Energy Surat Gas Project North expansion to start in late 2024

Arrow Energy has a major expansion of its 27-year Surat Gas Project (SGP) to an area north-east of Miles in Queensland’s Western Downs. Known as SGP North, the development will bring more than 130 terajoules of additional gas to market per day for long-term contract and domestic customers. The expansion is part of the SGP development, which will have the capability to produce more than 4000 petajoules of gas over the life of the project. Construction on SGP North is scheduled to begin later this year, with infrastructure to include up to 450 new gas production wells, a new field compression station, 27km of pipeline, and road and infrastructure upgrades over two phases. Arrow CEO Zhengxin Peng said he was pleased to receive sanction by its shareholders for SGP North, with first gas targeted for 2026. “At a time when more gas is needed for homes, businesses and industries, the SGP North development will solidify Arrow’s position as a major producer of natural gas on the east coast,” Mr Peng said. “Natural gas is an important part of the energy transition, and the expansion demonstrates the faith our shareholders have in our ability to manage and deliver large scale projects.” Mr Peng said the Miles region would benefit from up to 400 jobs to be created from the development. “It means more jobs, more opportunities for local contractors and suppliers, including Indigenous businesses, and other economic benefits for the local community, including upgrades to local roads. “Like the first phase of the SGP, we will be minimising our environmental footprint and impact to the community through our agreement with Shell QGC, which enables us to use existing facilities and infrastructure.” The SGP North development will include: • up to 450 production wells and associated gathering • a 121 TJ/d four-compressor […]

Manufacturing finalists announced

2024 AUSTRALIAN TRADES AND WOMEN’S SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION AWARDS From thousands of entrants from across the nation, 26 have made the Manufacturing Finalists Lists of 2024 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards and the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards – two major recognition awards programmes dedicated to spotlighting top-performing small business operators, nationwide. Spanning all capital cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns, the Trades and Women’s Small Business Champion Awards pay tribute to the vital role of small businesses in Australia’s overall social and economic prosperity. Moreover, the Awards recognise small business owners’ invaluable contributions to their local communities and to their fields of specialty. The Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is now in its third year and requires at least 50 per cent female ownership of an entrant business. Now in its second year, the 2024 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards features a total of more than 50 categories, across trades-based retail, services and manufacturing industries.PIC from 2023 Awards. Among this year’s most competitive categories, Manufacturing is proving exceptionally challenging to judge, says Steve Loe, Awards Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, which coordinates the Australian Trades and Women’s Small Business Champion Awards. “The quality of Manufacturing category entrants is very impressive. The shortlisting of this year’s finalists was quite the challenge for our judges. “When the Champion Judges evaluate entries, they consider all aspects of a business: its strategies, growth, eco-friendliness, community contributions, innovation, customer service, and product and service quality – to name but some of the criteria. “The next rounds of judging will be intense as we continue to evaluate the achievements of this year’s 26 Manufacturing finalists to reach just one winner per programme,” says Mr Loe. The 16 Manufacturing finalists of the Australian Trades Small Business […]

Air-Met Scientific buys DustCanary

Air-Met Scientific, a leading provider of environmental monitoring solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of DustCanary, a prominent UK company specialising in advanced dust monitoring technology. This strategic acquisition represents a significant step in the company\’s ongoing expansion within the environmental industry. Enhancing Environmental Product Portfolio in Australia The acquisition of DustCanary is a pivotal move for Air-Met Scientific, enhancing its product offerings in the realm of real-time dust monitoring. DustCanary is renowned for its innovative technologies, including the DustCanary Trend 420, a personal dust monitor designed to protect workers from hazardous dust exposure including respirable dust by providing immediate feedback and alerts. This product is particularly effective in industrial settings such as construction, mining, and manufacturing, where air quality and worker safety are critical concerns. Commitment to Workplace Safety and Environmental Health “Acquiring DustCanary underscores our commitment to advancing workplace safety and environmental health through innovative monitoring solutions,” said Simon Meers, Managing Director of Air-Met Scientific. “The addition of the DustCanary brand complements our existing portfolio and enhances our ability to provide comprehensive, reliable, and effective solutions for dust monitoring and control.” Founded in 1984, Air-Met Scientific is a leading supplier of occupational health, safety and environmental monitoring solutions specialising in air quality, gas detection, and dust monitoring. With offices conveniently located in major cities across Australia and a commitment to innovation, Air-Met Scientific provides industry-leading products and services designed to enhance worker and environmental safety and compliance.

Food Recycle seeks $3m capital raise for commercialisation of food waste to animal feed technology

Food Recycle CEO Norm Boyle (pictured) co-founded the company with his son Nathan Boyle to tackle the global problem of food waste. Food Recycle has patented and patent pending technology to convert any commercial food waste into high-performance animal feeds for industries including poultry, pigs, and aquaculture. Australian company, Food Recycle Ltd, has developed technology to turn commercial food waste into animal feed, leading to less waste in landfill, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to a circular economy. After successful trials with layer hens, prawns, barramundi, and aquaponics, Food Recycle is seeking a $3m capital raise via crowd-funding platform, Swarmer, to commercialise the technology and scale-up in Australia and New Zealand. “The funds raised will be put towards facility mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and systems design, to allow for the first commercial-scale production facility to be built under the Food Recycle patented technology and knowhow agreement,” says Food Recycle CEO, Norm Boyle. “The funds will also help with cash flow requirements as we look to appoint a technology and knowhow licensee for Australia and New Zealand, which will construct multiple production facilities, with Food Recycle receiving royalty payments on the sale of feed by the licensee,” he adds. “The licensee will be required to construct a minimum of 25 production facilities over a 10-year period, and we would expect 12 of these in the first five years.” The Swarmer crowd-funding campaign – which enters a three-week Expressions of Interest (EOI) phase on August 8, followed by a three-week investment phase – allows individual investments starting from $100, with investors given shares in the company. Food Recycle technology is part of a truly circular economy, keeping valuable resources circulating and out of landfill and the environment. The food waste problem According to multiple sources, including the Australian […]

Australian made concussion diagnosis device exported to US

Every four minutes, someone in Australia is hospitalised with a head injury, with 24 per cent of all concussive episodes caused by sport.* The time taken for a patient to be diagnosed with concussion has largely been based on rudimentary field assessments, and diagnosis is often delayed as patients are transported to scanning equipment in hospitals. As a result, the potential for misdiagnosis or delay in treatment is high. With support from AMGC, Headsafe will change this, with the introduction of a ‘brain scanner in a briefcase’ dubbed Nurochek. Nurochek is a world-first device able to be deployed in mobile and clinical settings for rapid assessment and response to head injuries at the point of injury and at treating doctors or clinics. Verified extensively in the United States (US) and Australia, this US FDA-cleared portable headset uses patented technology to measure the brain’s electrical activity and sends the results to an online AI algorithm for analysis and later to the ‘cloud’ for secure storage. In a two-minute assessment, Nurochek will aid doctors and patients understand if a concussion has occurred. If so, then the patient can be appropriately managed and ensured a safer return to activities. Nurochek has multiple applications beyond sport, offering assessments for Traumatic Brain Injury from: Falls Motor vehicle accidents Military incidents and potentially early-stage diagnosis of other acute and chronic brain conditions. The two-year project, involving 11 collaborative partners, saw Headsafe adapt the technology to suit in-the-field deployment including the development of the technology while improving the data, processing, and usability capabilities of the product. Headsafe and its collaborators designed a new user interface, analysis algorithms, device design, power usage and cloud analysis capabilities. CEO and Founder of Headsafe, Dr. Adrian Cohen said, “Speed and accuracy of concussion diagnosis is key to better patient outcomes. Far […]

Building Australia’s EV battery future in Queensland

Gold Coast to become heart of EV battery manufacturing as eLumina’s $20 million facility nears completion. The Gold Coast will be home to Australia’s first factory capable of producing both community lithium batteries and EV chargers as eLumina’s $20 million manufacturing facility approaches completion. The factory will produce 300 batteries a year and create 300 jobs on the Gold Coast, capable of serving up to 100 Queensland households with reliable and cheaper renewable energy. Chief Executive Officer of eLumina, Lisa Marsh, said on-shore manufacturing of critical EV technology, such as chargers and batteries, was essential to Australia’s energy future. “Global demand for batteries is soaring. We have record solar uptake and energy generation in Australia, but we need battery storage at scale to harness its full potential,” she said. “Through battery storage we can capture this energy and ensure reliable and cheaper off-grid power to all Australians. This insulates communities from power outages and saves them money.” Ms Marsh said eLumina was proud to be building the factory in Queensland and grow the local industry. “Queensland has the potential to become a world leader in next-generation battery manufacturing and research and development. Our centre is just the start of that. We are committed to making a fundamental difference to Australia’s clean energy economy,” she said. “We’re building this facility using local talent and locally sourced parts and materials. Once it’s completed, it will support 300 high-skilled jobs, which will draw on the region’s talent.” “Our world-class research and development training centre will al so upskill hundreds of Queenslanders with the expertise to contribute to our evolving battery and EV charging sector.” Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the Gold Coast had an ambitious plan to secure a larger slice of the clean energy sector and the high skilled jobs it’s […]

Climate Impact Corporation announces 10GW renewable hydrogen projects in South Australia and Northern Territory

Climate Impact Corporation (CIC), a leading international developer of renewable energy and green hydrogen projects, has announced its intention to develop two 10GW green hydrogen projects in central Australia utilising its proprietary renewable hydrogen production modular technology. The announcement is backed by CIC’s development, in partnership with GE Vernova, of self-contained modules that produce zero-carbon hydrogen. The deployment of the two projects is supported by CIC’s secure equipment supply chain including the onshore manufacturing of equipment. Compared to traditional renewable hydrogen production, which typically sources vast quantities of water from piped water sources and grid electricity, CIC’s modular hydrogen production units are designed to operate entirely off-grid, reducing demand on governments and communities to fund supporting infrastructure. Each module contains solar panels, atmospheric water generators, electrolysers and supporting infrastructure to produce hydrogen as an individual standalone unit. Crucially, the use of atmospheric water allows hydrogen to be produced anywhere where solar radiation is abundant, opening up new locations in central Australia as potential renewable fuel hubs. David Green, Chairman and Co-Founder of CIC, said the approach would unlock inland hydrogen production opportunities in solar-rich locations such as the Northern Territory and South Australia. “Renewable hydrogen production requires a significant amount of energy and water, which aren’t often found together in places like Australia,” Mr Green said. “Rather than repeating the same approach, we’re looking to solve this challenge by creating modules that use Australia’s abundant solar resources, combined with proven atmospheric water generation technology. It’s an approach that solves one of the biggest challenges Australia has faced in becoming a renewable hydrogen superpower, and we’re excited to be bringing it to market first in Australia.” CIC has recently achieved several key milestones for its Australian projects as it plans to begin manufacturing renewable hydrogen modules in Australia. CIC recently announced […]

Sircel secures $5m impact investment from Kilara Capital

Funding to boost national expansion and Australia’s most advanced solar panel recycling facility Australia’s largest e-waste processor,Sircel, has secured a $5 million capital injection from impact investor Kilara Capital to drive its national expansion and processing capabilities on its mission to solve the global e-waste crisis. Attracted to the Australian owned green technology company’s proven circular economy business model, The Kilara Growth Fund undertook a rigorous impact assessment and rated Sircel highly across its key benchmarks for environmental sustainability and commercial impact. Founder and Managing Partner of Kilara Capital, Ben Krasnostein said that Kilara’s investment in Sircel was a unique opportunity to achieve multiple climate positive outcomes through a proven circular economy business that was operational and scalable. “Sircel really ticks a lot of the boxes that the Kilara Growth Fund looks for: it’s a company with a proven business model, an ever-growing customer base and it has the potential to achieve significant climate positive and commercial outcomes,” Krasnostein said. “Sircel’s impressive leadership team have remained focussed on solving the rapidly growing e-waste problem in its entirety, rather than taking shortcuts, which has led to a truly innovative business with the potential to change the way we think about electronic waste. “After so many years of R&D it’s an exciting and critical time for the business as it scales nationally, diverting more e-waste from landfill and recovering more materials than was previously thought possible.” “We’re particularly buoyed by the opportunities to salvage precious metals from e-waste to power the future of renewable energy, reducing reliance onmining operations.” Sircel has also announced Kilara Capital’s Portfolio Manager, Irina McCreadie, joins the Board of Directors, further strengthening our governance and strategic leadership. The investment follows Sircel’s May 2024 acquisition of Scipher Technologies, which elevated the company to become the largest e-waste processor in Australia and the […]

More than meets the eye: Turning transformer trouble into sustainable success

What started as an unexpected failure on a key piece of machinery has ended as one of the most ambitious and successful recycling projects Meridian has ever undertaken. A failure in one of two transformers at Meridian’s West Wind site last May left the team with one working transformer and scratching their heads about what to do with the other one – all 100 tonnes of it. “We decided that it wasn’t cost effective to repair,” says West Wind Site Owner Hamish Walker. “One of the questions we asked was, what’s best for business? Do we pick this failed transformer up, plonk it next to it, and just leave it there?” Ultimately, the decision was guided by a combination of economics and environmentalism. Senior Project Manager Jade Lloyd says the team quickly found that the best and only acceptable option was to salvage as much of the failed transformer as possible. More than meets the eye: turning transformer trouble into sustainable success – YouTube Of the roughly 100-tonne transformer and 36,000 litres of oil, it’s estimate that just three tonnes of wood, oil-soaked wood and paper were unable to be repurposed, recycled or reused. Lower Hutt-based supplier Macaulay Metals was engaged to assist with the removal of the transformer. Because its enormous size made it very hard to transport it on the winding rural roads leading from West Wind, it was dismantled into its component parts on site. “They took the tank away, pulled all the copper out, and that’s going away and getting recycled. And they pull all the steel laminations, which is the majority of the weight there. Then they get chopped into smaller laminations and get reused in smaller transformers,” says Hamish Walker. Following five months of meticulous planning, the scrapping process took just two weeks, starting […]

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