Smart Manufacturing

Ancient tectonic processes the key to locating rare minerals essential for modern technologies

New research from Adelaide University has revealed that geological processes dating back billions of years are critical to locating the rare earth elements needed for modern technologies and the global clean energy transition. Published today in Science Advances, the study shows a strong global link between ancient subduction zones – where tectonic plates collide – and the formation of rare earth element (REE) deposits and carbonatites, a type of hot molten rock called magma, known to host these valuable resources. Rare earth elements are essential components in technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and defence systems. However, locating economically viable deposits remains a major global challenge. Led by Professor Carl Spandler from the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, the research team reconstructed Earth’s geological history over the past two billion years using advanced plate tectonic modelling. They identified regions of the Earth’s mantle that had been fertilised by subduction processes, where material from one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, releasing fluids and elements into the overlying mantle. The Adelaide University researchers found that these fertilised mantle regions now underlie approximately 67% of carbonatites and 72% of REE deposits formed over the past 1.8 billion years. For older deposits, that figure rises to 92%. Prof Spandler said the findings provide compelling evidence that ancient subduction zones play a fundamental role in creating the conditions needed for rare earth deposits to form. “This research shows that the ingredients for these critical mineral deposits were put in place many million to even billions of years ago,” Prof Spandler said. “By identifying where these ancient processes occurred, we can significantly narrow down the search areas for future discoveries.” The study also challenges previous theories that linked these deposits primarily to mantle plumes –columns of hot material rising from deep within the […]

Faster approvals critical to realising Queensland’s Taroom Trough opportunity

The Queensland Government’s welcome plan to unlock the Taroom Trough represents a significant opportunity to strengthen Australia’s fuel security and economic resilience. Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the Taroom Trough has long been recognised by industry as a highly prospective basin with the potential to play a major role in Australia’s energy future. “The Taroom Trough is an exciting opportunity for Queensland and Australia — a significant oil resource that could bolster our fuel security and help to reduce reliance on imports,” Ms McCulloch said. “The industry has long recognised the potential of the Taroom region, and the Queensland Government’s Taroom Trough Development Plan is an important step in encouraging exploration and investment.” Ms McCulloch said the focus must now shift to ensuring projects can proceed without unnecessary delay. “Faster, more efficient approvals and stronger policy settings will be critical to unlocking Taroom and similar basins,” she said. “We need all levels of government working together to fix the approvals system. Carving oil and gas projects out of streamlined reforms under the EPBC was a missed opportunity, and it makes even less sense now given the impacts of the global energy crisis. “There is a significant opportunity not just in Taroom, but across Australia — but it will only be realised with the right policy settings and investment certainty to bring new supply online. “That means encouraging exploration, delivering much faster approvals, and addressing activism and lawfare that is delaying critical energy projects. “Australia has substantial undeveloped oil resources, and developing them is key to strengthening fuel security, supporting regional jobs and helping shield Australians from future global energy shocks.”

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding with a new investment prospectus, The City of Ipswich Space to Grow.

Ipswich primed to be Queensland’s manufacturing and defence capital

Ipswich is positioned to be the manufacturing and defence capital of Queensland with an 8,000-hectare future supply of industrial land. With the largest area of land earmarked as developable for commercial and industrial purposes than any other city in South East Queensland, Ipswich City Council has outlined its competitive advantages in a new investment prospectus, The City of Ipswich: Space to Grow. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the city is uniquely positioned to attract advanced manufacturing, defence, production, innovation and logistics. “Ipswich is in a prime position to help bring manufacturing back to Queensland and Australia,” Mayor Harding said. “As a proven location for industry to thrive, Ipswich is HQ to operations of companies including Goodman Group, Coles, Suntory Oceania, JBS, Rheinmetall, L’Oréal Groupe, Australia Post, FedEx, TAE Aerospace, Visy, CHEP, Sunny Queen, Bombadier, DB Schenker and Bapcor. Officeworks and Asahi are also building large-scale facilities in Ipswich. “Manufacturing and defence are our city’s biggest industries, contributing about 60 per cent of our $8 billion in annual exports, and we are hungry more of this type of investment. “With a potential industrial land supply of 7,923 hectares – a supply bigger than that of all other South East Queensland local government areas combined – we have space planned for new commercial and industrial centres. “The region overall is facing challenges when it comes to industrial land supply, with Brisbane predicted to run out in a matter of a few years. “Ipswich stands ready to cater for the land requirements of a range of industries. Our city has a proud history of manufacturing and it remains one of the largest employers of any industry in our city. “We want to ensure Ipswich is the manufacturing and defence capital of Queensland, so that investment flows through our economy and leads to job […]

Australia secures trade deal with EU

After 8 years of negotiations, Australia has secured a landmark trade deal with the European Union, the world’s second largest economy. The Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement will lower trade and investment barriers between Australia and the European Union – a market of around 450 million people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, together with the Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Mr Maroš Šefčovič announced the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement today which, together with the Australia-EU Security and Defence partnership, is a key aspect of our growing strategic relationship. The deal will strengthen our economic and strategic partnership; demonstrate our mutual commitment to open and rules-based trade; and diversify our trade – bolstering Australia’s competitiveness, growth and resilience in an increasingly uncertain global trade environment. The trade agreement will result in 98 per cent of the current value of Australia’s exports entering the European Union duty free. Australian farmers and producers will benefit from the elimination of almost all European Union tariffs on agricultural products. This includes wine, nuts, fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, most dairy products, wheat and barley, and seafood. For example, Australian wine producers and exporters will benefit to the tune of around $37 million annually with the removal of European Union import tariffs. For other important agricultural products, the agreement delivers commercially meaningful access through new or expanded tariff rate quota volumes, including for beef, sheep meat, sugar, rice, wheat gluten, skimmed milk powder and natural butter. The removal of most Australian tariffs on imports from the EU will make things like European wine, spirits, biscuits, chocolates and pasta cheaper at Aussie checkouts. Farmers and businesses will also benefit from […]

ChameleCo and SpacePort Australia create space education opportunities and facilities

The Chameleon Consulting Firm, based in the United States, https://www.chameleco.com/ and SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd have joined forces to conduct a feasibility study focused on integrating STEM training pathways, including practical spaceflight crew training and space environment orientation facilities. As humanity advances toward sustained space exploration and eventual colonization, the profile of space travelers will extend beyond traditional astronauts. Future exploration-class space missions (ECSMs) and extraterrestrial settlements will require a wide range of professionals, each needing training to operate and survive in space environments. With a focus on preparing the next generations for human spaceflight, Ms. Ambericent Cornett, CEO of The Chameleon Consulting Firm LLC, is developing practical training and acclimatisation models. Ms. Cornett brings multidisciplinary expertise spanning military intelligence operations, cybersecurity and technical program management, and public health as an infectious disease epidemiologist, complemented by leadership experience in fraud operations and advanced academic research as a quantum PhD candidate. SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd (SPA) is an ongoing initiative with over 16 years of development, including eight years of formalized operations (www.SpaceportAustralia.com.au). Dr. Gabrielle M. Caswell, Founder and CEO of SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd (SPA), established the organisation as an independent research hub prior to the formation of the Australian Space Agency. The organisation supports innovative research in space medicine, human performance, and biological and operational liveability in microgravity and space environments. Dr. Caswell serves in a rare practitioner-scholar capacity and is uniquely positioned as the only female working clinician to own and operate a spaceport. Both organisations share a mutual focus on education, research, and infrastructure development, with a commitment to creating practical and accessible pathways for individuals to pursue careers in the space sector. Ms. Cornett stated, “This partnership is mutually beneficial. We are aligned in addressing the challenges that space environments present to human survival. Success will […]

GDM Fast-Tracks Cashflow at Challenger Gold Mine

Great Divide Mining Ltd has moved to accelerate near-term cash generation at its wholly owned Challenger Gold Mine in Adelong, NSW, utilising historical mullock stockpiles on site for initial process plant feed. The mullock provides a low-cost and immediate production feed as commissioning works continue. The priority mullock sites — Currajong, Great Victoria/Annetts/Research, Donkey Hill and Radcliffe/O’Briens — comprise stockpiles ranging from 10,500 to 35,000 tonnes at average gold grades between 1.38g/t and 1.6g/t. “The mullock sits at surface, eliminating drilling and conventional mining costs, with short off-road haulage distances to the upgraded Challenger processing plant,” said CEO Justin Haines. “Seizing this opportunity materially strengthens the Company’s restart strategy,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of opportunity we look for at historic goldfields. The material is already mined, it’s sitting at surface, and at grades higher than some operating hard-rock mines,” Mr. Haines continued. “With record gold prices and minimal recovery costs, mullock processing provides a straightforward pathway to early cashflow while we continue ramp-up activities across the broader Challenger site,” he said Local contractor L.A. Broome Contracting will mobilise within two to three weeks to commence haulage of mullock to the ROM pad, ensuring consistent plant feed as commissioning progresses. GDM is taking a “treat-all” strategy to the mullock to maximise gold recovery. Challenger, part of GDM’s 70km² Adelong Project, is being recommissioned under a staged “crawl-walk-run” restart plan designed to establish commercial production while expanding operational capacity. “Cleaning up the mullock onsite is a win for the environment as well,” said Haines.

Swisslog “Ready for the Next” at Retail Fulfilment Show 2026

Swisslog will be showcasing the latest advancements in AutoStore High Throughput (HTP) Swisslog, a global leader in automated intralogistics solutions, will showcase its agile automation and software solutions at the 2026 Retail Fulfilment Show from 18-19 March at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. The Retail Fulfilment Show brings together retail and supply chain leaders seeking innovative solutions to improve fulfilment speed, scalability, and operational performance. Swisslog will be exhibiting at Stand 31 where it will share its “Ready for the Next” message to Australian and New Zealand retailers and e-commerce businesses. The stand will highlight the latest advancements in AutoStore High Throughput (HTP) and the power of integrated warehouse software. Next-level automation for Australian retailers As retail and e-commerce operations continue to face rising customer expectations, labour pressures, and increasing SKU complexity, flexible and high-performance automation has become critical. At the event, Swisslog will demonstrate how its expertise in designing and delivering AutoStore systems – enhanced by its proprietary SynQ software – helps retailers unlock higher throughput, maximise storage density and future-proof their fulfilment operations. “Retailers and e-commerce businesses need solutions that can evolve as quickly as their customers’ expectations,” said Steve Dimitrovski, Director of Sales, Swisslog Australia and New Zealand, who will be at the Swisslog stand, ready to discuss future-focused automation. “‘Ready for the Next’ reflects our commitment to delivering automation strategies that scale with growth, adapt to change, and provide long-term operational resilience.” Staying in-SynQ Swisslog will also be showcasing its proprietary SynQ software which is designed to sit at the heart of automated intralogistics, bringing together warehouse management, execution, material flow, and automation control into one unified platform. Built to orchestrate people, processes, and robotics across complex retail operations, SynQ connects inbound receiving through to order fulfilment and dispatch. The platform leverages real-time data, […]

Program launched to get more women working in manufacturing in Queensland

A new campaign has been launched to encourage more women into manufacturing as Queensland faces a critical skills shortage in the $28.9 billion sector. Ahead of International Women’s Day, Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) wants women and girls to know they have a critical role to play in building Queensland’s future and there are numerous job opportunities available to them. MSQ has created the Manufacturing Industry Influencer Program which showcases women who are building successful careers in manufacturing by working in jobs ranging from boilermakers and engineers to rocket designers. MSQ Acting CEO Kris McCue said it is important for women to see other women working in manufacturing because ‘if you see it, you can be it’. “Some workplaces are now seeing increased female participation, and that’s the trend we want to accelerate across the entire manufacturing sector.” The influencers will be visiting schools across Queensland and speaking at community forums and industry events to inspire the next generation, promote MSQ’s training and mentoring programs, and campaign for more women in manufacturing. Influencer Rebecca Linwood works at a leading rail and transit systems business in Maryborough and is known as the ‘safety lady’. “At our facility, more than 10 per cent of the workforce are women, working across boiler making, fitter and turner, safety, finance, purchasing, design and engineering,” Ms Linwood said. “Manufacturing can be fast-paced, exciting, and something you can be proud of. You can be yourself and still play an integral role in making manufacturing happen.” Around 170,000 people work in manufacturing across Queensland. MSQ delivers targeted workforce development programs to support manufacturers in building capability and addressing critical skills gaps across the sector. Creative technologist Steph Piper is based at the University of Southern Queensland and runs the Library Makerspace where students learn about manufacturing skills like 3D […]

The 4 x 4 World Class Productivity Simulation

Supercharge your productivity and learn how to apply Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools Access your CI maturity Create your CI action plan Unlock your operating excellence For leaders who are serious about driving efficiency, gaining clarity and implementing continuous improvement (CI) programs across their organisation – this workshop is for you. The World Class Productivity Simulation (The 4 x 4)is an internationally proven, hands-on learning experience that: *Accelerates team and leadership understanding of continuous improvement as a key tool to lift productivity and drive real change. *Heips you assess your own business CI maturity *Provides a clear roadmap on how to build a culture of continuous improvement *Identifies and prioritises where your business can get measurable productivity gains This is a dynamic experimental workshop where your team will engage, compete, collaborate and apply real-world tools in a simulated business environment. Your organisationwill see the impact of lean principles, operational discipline, and teamwork -immediately and tangibly. From workshop to workplace, real results that stick Practicial outcomes you can use immediately *A clear understanding of CI levers that drive efficiency *Shared language and framework for sustainable improvement *A roadmap to reduce rework, delays and waste *Strategies for lifting performance across functions *Insights and tactics on how and where to boost productivity across teams and functions Who it’s for For organisations at any stage of their continuous improvement journey, whether you’re just getting started or looking to take exisitng capability to the next level. Group size: 12-24 participants Delivered by: Argon and Co’s experienced facilitators Investment: $1,050 AUD per person + GST & travel expenses Location Course No. Course Type Dates-2026 Adelaide 4x4Au000 2-day AI March 10th & 11th Brisbane 4x4Au002 2-day AI […]

Why India joining the US alliance on AI tech is an opportunity for Australia

Arup George, Research Manager, UNSW Sydney India has formally joined the United States’ flagship international alliance on artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain security: “Pax Silica”. Officials from both countries signed the Pax Silica declaration on the sidelines of a major AI summit in New Delhi last week. This initiative seeks to bring together US “allies and trusted partners” to lead the global AI race. Australia was a founding member. While Taiwan looks set to keep dominating advanced AI chip manufacturing, it relies on a complex international supply chain, with critical aspects dominated by China. When essential elements come from a narrow set of suppliers, even minor disruptions can ripple globally. Diversity matters. That’s why Australia and India now have an opportunity to become essential international players. Why Washington is building an alliance AI is rapidly becoming a foundational resource of the 21st century across manufacturing, logistics, finance, healthcare, drug discovery and defence. The Pax Silica alliance recognises different countries play distinct and critical roles in building the tech that powers AI. For example, advanced chip-design expertise is concentrated in the US. Key semiconductor manufacturing equipment comes from the Netherlands and Japan. South Korea produces a small but important slice of the world’s AI computer chips. But the biggest chip maker by far is the tiny island nation of Taiwan. Healthcare AI robots at an exhibition at the India AI Impact Summit. AP The world’s chip factory Taiwan produces 90% of the world’s most advanced AI chips, designed by US firms such as Nvidia, Google and AMD. These firms overwhelmingly depend on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). This remains the only manufacturer that can produce the world’s most cutting-edge chips at scale. And their advantage extends beyond making chips. TSMC also possesses unique advanced packaging capabilities that integrate AI accelerators with high-bandwidth memory chips. This is essential for achieving the tight coupling of “compute” […]

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