Industry News

Sydney-based Space Machines Company has completed work on Australia’s first locally built engine for satellites, without relying on overseas suppliers. The Scintilla propulsion engine will be a major component of the company’s Optimus Viper rapid response vehicle, designed for rapid orbital manoeuvring and space domain awareness missions. SMC vice president of engineering and mission operations Ian Partis said the company had set out to vertically integrate the propulsion system for its Optimus Viper, rather than outsourcing the propulsion system to a third party. “The better the propulsion system and the more delta-v available, the greater range of orbits we can access and the faster we can get there,” he says. “This is so fundamental to our mission that the satellite is essentially a propulsion system with a payload on top.” SMC co-founder and chief executive Rajat Kulshrestha said the company had progressed faster on the engine than even their most optimistic predictions. “The engine has reached steady-state conditions and demonstrated the ability to run for extended periods – a…

Australian biotechnology company Vaxxas has secured about $90 million in its latest funding round to progress work on its needle-free vaccine delivery technology. In Vaxxas’ words, it produces high-density microarray patches designed with thousands of microscopic projections, each ‘printed’ with a small dose of vaccine in a dried formulation. When applied, a patch delivers the vaccine to immune cells that naturally reside immediately below the surface of the skin – in a way Vaxxas says could be more stable at higher temperatures than liquid formulations, and which could potentially be self-administered at home. Vaxxas says it will use the funding, which includes $49.2 million in Series D Equity and another $40 million in debt facilities, to help make its patch technology market ready, including installation of semi-automated manufacturing lines and later-stage clinical trial programs. Company chair Sarah Meibusch, who replaced previous chair Paul Kelly following his retirement, says the capital raising was an excellent achievement in what was a “very difficult market for biotech”. “Coupled with our sharp focus on commercialisation, this funding provides Vaxxas with a runway…

Leading voices in Australia's manufacturing technology industry convened in Canberra on August 21 for the National Manufacturing Technology Skills Summit. The event, led by AMTIL and facilitated by the Victorian Skills Authority, focused on crafting an actionable plan to address the critical and widening shortage of qualified CNC (Computer Numerical Control) operators across the country. While demand outweighs supply for many skillsets required by the manufacturing industry, the lack of CNC professionals stands out as a particularly urgent issue. AMTIL estimates that the shortage currently sees 1,000 roles unfilled, a figure projected to exceed 3,000 within two years without deliberate intervention. The reasons behind the shortage are multifaceted. Training to competency takes time, with a Certificate IV typically requiring several years of vocational education, followed by extensive on-the-job training. Given the high cost of CNC machinery and materials, operators must be adequately skilled to avoid costly errors and ensure consistent quality. Yet, despite the technical sophistication and stability of the role, CNC operation remains under-recognised as a stepping-stone…

Voice Phishing (Vishing) attacks against manufacturers and other organisations by cyber criminals are rising rapidly around the world, according to a leading cybersecurity provider.   US-based cybersecurity company CrowdStrike says that the number of criminals and other threat actors using their own human voices to deceive targets has already eclipsed in 2025 the total number of recorded attacks in 2024.  “Voice phishing (vishing) attacks increased by 442% from the first to the second half of 2024, marking a significant and effective evolution in eCrime tactics,” the report says.   “These attacks are successful because they exploit human vulnerabilities and leverage compromised credentials and social engineering to bypass traditional security measures, gain initial access and move laterally within organisations at speed.”  CrowdStrike head of counter adversary operations Adam Meyers said these attacks often take place through a voice call to a company help desk.  "Typically, the call is pretending to be a user, they will do it out of hours to limit the possibility the user is…

Kerr Engineering has added a new double column machining centre to its expanding dedicated machine shop at its base in Henderson, Western Australia.  The company has installed and commissioned an Okuma double column machining centre model MCR-A5CII, joining a range of advanced machines in a building currently being extended to exceed 4,000 square metres.   The expanded machine shop, which includes another eight Okuma models, will take Kerr’s machining, fabrication and paint facility to 8,000 square metres in total, with a further expansion to an additional 2,000 square metre fabrication site nearby set to come.   Since purchasing Kerr Engineering in 2000, owners David and Mark Kinsman have transformed the company into one of the State’s most advanced engineering shops, today specialising in customised metal work, precision machining and fabrication.   Mark said Kerr Engineering had concentrated its development on using machines from Okuma Australia for more than 20 years.   “In doing so we have established a strong partnership with Okuma Australia based on unwavering technical support and the…

Occupying half a nondescript side street in an industrial area of Bayswater, a sprawling medical device research and manufacturing facility buzzes with activity. Inside this complex is SDI Limited, primarily involved in researching and developing, manufacturing, and marketing specialist materials for the dental profession. Founded in 1972, SDI is fast becoming a world leader in specialist dental materials, and has been recognised with multiple export and international awards. History Over 50 years ago, the company's Chairman, Jeffery Cheetham OAM, founded SDI Limited. SDI expanded into composites in the 1990s, and whitening and glass-ionomer cements in the 2000s, now making a wide range of materials for clinicians. SDI Limited’s products compete in the highly regulated medical device market and have full accreditation in each country, including the EU MDR, so they will continue this practice for the foreseeable future. SDI Limited is classified as a medical device company. Those brave enough to visit the dentist every six months will have seen their range of dental products in use. Technology The high-tech devices are mainly…

The use of 3D printers to create living tissues and organs is revolutionising medicine, but University of Queensland research reveals the legal system is struggling to keep up as the technology races ahead. Lead researcher Dr Pratap Devarapalli from UQ’s Law School said about 1,850 Australians are on the organ transplant waiting list. Bioprinting is a promising solution if supported by clear and flexible global patent laws. “Patent law hasn’t kept pace with what’s scientifically possible,” Dr Devarapalli said. “The implications extend beyond medicine to fundamental questions about innovation policy. Ironically, the more realistic and medically useful a bioprinted organ is, the harder it becomes to patent because laws often require it to be clearly different from what exists in nature.” In 2025 the bioprinting market is estimated at $5.5bn and is projected to reach $20bn by 2034. Patents give inventors temporary protection from copying and without them companies may be less willing to invest, slowing down progress in developing lifesaving medical tools and treatments. The research compares how major jurisdictions including the US, Europe and Australia assess…

During the construction of the Eiffel Tower, engineer Gustave Eiffel noticed the tower could be used as a giant thermometer. Due to the structure expanding and contracting with temperature changes, its height can vary by up to 15cm. This engineering quirk demonstrates the impact of temperature extremes on industrial structures. However, temperature is just one of many engineering considerations in today's complex industry settings. Here, James Chester, director at Technidrive, explains how the right systems integrator can help to navigate these complexities. Environmental conditions can wreak havoc on the longevity of motors and gear units. From extreme temperatures and corrosive substances to dust, moisture, and vibration, the environment can put a significant strain on equipment. Consequently, engineering suitable drive trains can be extremely challenging. Additionally, many end users are unaware of these specific requirements when commissioning a system. Among the most common challenges is the fluctuation of temperatures. Whether extremely hot or cold, this variation can lead to thermal stress, affecting the lubrication and performance of motors and gear units. Continuous operation at either end of the temperature spectrum…

Flexible Smart Job Shop (FSJ) is an advanced, connected, and fully integrated flexible production system that enables the automatic production of various parts without operator intervention or machine downtime for retooling. The systems that make up the FSJ can operate independently or collaboratively, adapting to diverse production needs, from creating small batches to producing complex kits. The integration of intermediate storage and upstream and downstream workstations provides exceptional flexibility, making it ideal for optimising production flows and supporting just-in-time production, thus reducing idle times and waste. The RVS artificial vision system streamlines the management of robotic assistance, accelerates the intermediate recognition and handling steps, and maximises the value of the finished part. In fact, due to enhanced connectivity and the latest technological solutions, FSJ leverages the capabilities of artificial intelligence and robotics to optimise production processes. It also addresses the increasingly stringent environmental and economic sustainability requirements, contributing to an efficient and responsible production model. The FSJ consists of the new L3.G4 fibre laser, which is fully automated; the P-Robot, which…

In the current competitive manufacturing landscape, the principles of efficiency and precision are paramount. Advanced Steel Fabrications, a leading steel processing and fabrication company here in Australia, has recently invested significantly in cutting-edge CNC laser technology to enhance its production capabilities. By integrating both AORE 2D Sheet and 3D Tube CNC Laser Cutting Machines, the company has effectively improved its operations' speed, quality, and versatility. Meeting industry demands with AORE CNC lasers Advanced Steel Fabrications has built a solid reputation for delivering high-quality steel components for construction, mining, and infrastructure sectors. As the demand for more complex and precision-engineered components grew, the company sought a solution to streamline production without compromising accuracy. After evaluating various options, Advanced Steel Fabrications selected AORE’s 2D and 3D CNC laser cutting solutions. The combination of these machines has enabled them to increase cutting speeds, minimise manual processing, and achieve superior edge quality, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of their production workflow. Transforming production with 2D & 3D cutting capabilities The AORE 2D Sheet CNC Laser Cutting Machine has afforded Advanced Steel Fabrications the ability to…

Price’s Fabrication + Steel is a family-owned business based in Williams, Western Australia. They specialise in custom-designed agricultural sheds and water tanks, serving the Southern Wheatbelt and Lower Southwest regions. Their shed offerings include machinery, workshop, hay, commercial, drive-through, and fertiliser sheds. Price’s Fabrication + Steel is a strong, well-managed, and successful WA business with a positive outlook.   The challenge Price’s Fabrication + Steel encountered several growth-related challenges and sought external support to help resolve bottlenecks, uncover new opportunities, and enhance overall productivity. An initial visit to the Williams site revealed several areas ready for improvement. Price’s was dealing with a 12-month backlog of orders at the time. Compounding the issue, large volumes of materials occupied valuable space on-site due to long restock times—some items required up to six months to replenish. As a result, the company held six months' worth of inventory at any given time to manage supply chain delays. One of their most persistent issues was design inaccuracy. Transitioning design plans from paper to digital was underway to improve precision, but inefficiencies remained. Additionally,…

Export award-winning, Tauranga-based Oasis Engineering continues to expand its international market as a specialist manufacturer delivering world-leading solutions to those pushing the boundaries of energy and fluid transfer to benefit humanity and the environment. The company initially began as the maintenance division of a soft drink brand but was separated during a restructuring during the 1980s. The new company quickly established a strong reputation as a machine shop that reliably produced high-tolerance precision machined parts in difficult-to-work materials such as stainless steel and titanium. This led to work manufacturing valves and couplings that were required for the new and emerging Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel market for a major CNG supply company and this quickly expanded to every major CNG supplier and to every significant CNG market in more than 40 countries. Today, Oasis Engineering is part of the ELAFLEX Group of Companies of Hamburg and is manufacturing precision CNG, LPG and Hydrogen reticulation products for the world market, with approximately 80% of production going to the USA, 10% to other world markets and 10% to the…

The Australian-designed and manufactured Cochlear Nucleus Nexa System, is offering the world’s first hearing implant solution with upgradeable implant firmware, revolutionising how people with hearing loss can access future technology. Australians living with hearing loss are among the first in the world to access this technology. Conventional cochlear implants available today can only access future innovation by upgrading their sound processor. With the Nucleus Nexa System this limitation is removed. People with a Nucleus Nexa System can experience new features and advancements via updates to their smart implant's firmware and upgrades to their sound processor over time. Jan Janssen, Chief Technology Officer of Cochlear said the company had re-imagined the internal technology of the cochlear implant system. "The Nucleus Nexa System combines over 40 years of proven reliability from their trusted implants and technology leadership with a new cutting-edge chipset packed with innovative features,” he said. “With onboard diagnostics that monitor system performance to ensure optimal hearing, it reduces the burden on users and carers, setting a new standard in implantable hearing technology.…