What were the 5 biggest stories this week? Here's what @AuManufacturing visitors were reading.
Five) Psychotropic drugs maker makes takeover bid for IDT Australia
Psychotropic drug manufacturer Mynd Bio Pty Ltd has made a surprise bid to acquire Melbourne-based publicly listed drug development company IDT Australia.
The bidder is part of a larger group that already has investments in a pharmaceutical group developing psychotropic drugs and is planning to set up a manufacturing base in Portugal with the aim of entering the European market.
The group includes research and development company Pacalis Pty Ltd, drug development company Adkl Labs, a pharmaceutical education business, a patent lawyers business and the contract manufacturing of the active psychoactive drugs MDMA and psilocybin.
Four) Monash University and Tata Steel to set up innovation centre
Tata Steel, part of India's Tata conglomerate, and Monash University will establish a new innovation centre for environmental and intelligent manufacturing, marking the company's first major research and development collaboration with an Australian institution.
In a joint statement on the MoU signed on Friday, the universities said it would leverage “world-leading expertise in materials science and advanced manufacturing technologies” and build stronger links between Australian innovators and India.
While the release offered few details, the partnership is said to feature collaboration on “global challenges including technologies for decarbonization, sustainable resource recovery, and smart manufacturing.”
3) BlueScope's $300 million plate mill investment
The New South Wales Government has approved plans for a $300 million refurbishment of BlueScope's 60-year-old plate mill in Port Kembla.
The government said the development is a major endorsement of local steelmaking in NSW and is estimated to provide a $650 million boost to the economy.
The upgrade will increase the production capacity and manufacturing capability of the Port Kembla plant, which produces steel plate at temperatures as high as 1,300 degrees to meet growing demand from the construction, renewable energy and defence sectors.
2) Western Australia to open new clean energy TAFE school
The Federal and Western Australian Governments will jointly invest $70.5 million over five years to establish Australia's first TAFE Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence in Western Australia.
The centre will operate across Western Australia's TAFE network and will be a skills leader in clean energy science, engineering, construction and operations to support the transformation to net zero and an Australian-made future, according to a statement.
1) QuickStep delivers 100th drone
Composites manufacturer QuickStep is finding new success in the drone manufacturing business, recently delivering its 100th drone to customers Swoop Aero and Carbonix.
The Sydney-based company is accustomed to making critical aerospace parts such as wing trailing edges for Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and tail components for the F-35 Lightning fighter jet.
But Quick-Step entered the drone business in 2021 with a deal to develop low-volume/low-cost tooling for Swoop's initial production line of kite drones, which will be used to deliver medical supplies to remote areas, including Africa.
Photo: QuickStep/Drone manufacturing tooling, QuickStep Bankstown facility
