Breakthrough Victoria announced an investment of $2.5 million in Viridian Renewable Technology Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based company that is tackling food waste and fostering a circular economy through sustainable insect protein manufacturing.

Viridian is currently operating its first commercial facility in Derrimut, where it plans to ramp up production over the next 12 months, as revealed in a media release. 

This expansion will create 15 direct jobs and increase the annual output of protein ingredients by 1,300 tonnes. 

The company also has plans to establish two additional plants in Gippsland, strategically located in food and agricultural industry hubs to bolster local businesses.

Breakthrough Victoria said the investment aligns with Viridian’s commitment to collaborate with Victorian universities and engineering firms on future research projects, contributing to the state’s innovation sector. 

Specialising in insect-based protein development, Viridian aims to produce ingredients for pet and animal feed that surpass the nutritional quality of many traditional protein sources while significantly reducing environmental impact.

Additionally, Viridian manufactures fertilizer products used across Australia to support regenerative agriculture. 

The company’s efforts come at a crucial time, as Australians waste approximately 7.6 million tonnes of food annually, leading to substantial economic costs, waste of natural resources, and contributing about 3 per cent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

By constructing highly automated insect protein factories, Breakthrough Victoria said the company provides an affordable, consistent, and nutrient-rich alternative to traditional proteins in pet food and animal feed, addressing a pressing global challenge.

This investment is part of a broader initiative by Breakthrough Victoria to support innovative companies that promote sustainability and economic growth in the region.

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Autodesk announced the launch of new AI-powered capabilities within its Fusion and Alias software, designed to streamline manufacturing workflows and boost efficiency. 

The new tools, unveiled during Autodesk University’s annual Design & Make conference, aims to simplify complex tasks and empower manufacturers to deliver innovative products faster.

“For decades, manufacturers have responded to their customers’ demands for increasingly complex products, which in turn typically increases the complexity of designing and manufacturing those products,” said Jeff Kinder, executive vice president for Product Development and Manufacturing Solutions at Autodesk.

The new capabilities include AutoConstrain in Fusion, which automates the process of detecting and maintaining design relationships, saving designers significant time.

Another feature, Drawing Automation, generates 2D manufacturing drawings from 3D models at the click of a button, accelerating production timelines.

“Automations that handle error-prone, burdensome tasks, freeing people to focus on high-value, more rewarding work,” added Kinder.

Autodesk also introduced Form Explorer for Alias, a generative design tool enabling automotive designers to explore creative forms while adhering to historical styling cues.

In addition, the Autodesk Assistant in Fusion offers real-time, expert-level guidance, providing answers to technical questions and links to relevant sources within the software.

Kinder noted, “Imagine an AI assistant that flags supply chain risks. Simulations that push designers toward more sustainable and manufacturable designs.”

“We’re building these capabilities, as well as empowering our customers to build them.”

New manufacturing Data Model API launched

Autodesk has also launched a Manufacturing Data Model API to enhance data exchange and interoperability.

This new API allows third-party apps to integrate with Fusion projects, ensuring smooth collaboration between tools and workflows.

OpenBOM has developed a web-based solution that automates bill of materials (BOM) workflows, giving non-designers easy access to BOMs directly from design data and eliminating the need for manual, error-prone processes.

Meanwhile, Cideon has established a two-way integration between Autodesk Fusion and SAP, allowing CAD engineers and manufacturers to access SAP’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) data within Fusion.

Expanding the ecosystem for seamless collaboration

Recognising the need for connected tools, Autodesk said it continues to partner with over 150 hardware and software providers. Recent integrations include:

• Paperless Parts: Allows manufacturing estimators to generate instant quotes and address manufacturability issues within Fusion.
• Avnet Plugin: Enables electronics designers to source components and access reference designs directly in Fusion, reducing product development time.
• Makersite for Inventor: Offers sustainability insights by calculating environmental impacts, tracking progress toward eco-friendly goals, and suggesting material alternatives.
• NAVASTO for Alias Automotive: Brings wind tunnel simulations into the early design phase, helping automotive designers optimize aerodynamics and reduce redesign efforts.

“As an industry, we have an unprecedented opportunity to seize the value that AI, data, and digitisation offer. To do so, we must start by accessing and interconnecting the data to uncover the insights it offers,” Kinder stated.

“That’s why we’re so invested in continuing to build the Autodesk Fusion industry cloud. It’s the design and make platform for manufacturing. It’s a central environment for data, closely coupled with Autodesk AI to augment creativity, automate your workflow’s tedious tasks, and analyse project data to yield predictive insights that benefit business,” concluded Kinder.

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The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub is set to host an informative workshop on advanced manufacturing technologies on Thursday, 17 October 2024. 

This hands-on workshop aims to help Queensland manufacturers navigate the latest advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing, essential for scaling their operations in an increasingly digital landscape.

The event will kick off with a welcome address followed by an introduction to the ARM Hub, renowned for its role in accelerating industry digital transformation. 

Attendees can look forward to a series of technology presentations, starting with a focus on collaborative robots, commonly known as cobots.

The workshop will then explore 3D printing and delve into the applications of artificial intelligence in manufacturing.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in interactive demonstrations of each technology and gain insights from a panel discussion. 

The workshop will conclude with a summary and a networking session from 4:00 PM.

This event is tailoured for companies looking to scale operations, educators, and anyone with an interest in advanced manufacturing technologies. 

Specifically, it targets businesses that have already automated processes, those considering automation, and technology companies seeking to expand their capabilities.

The workshop is organised in collaboration with the Queensland Government Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing, and Water, aligning with the Queensland Government’s Advanced Manufacturing 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan.

For more details, click here.

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Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s launch of the Women in Manufacturing Strategy, describing it as a key step toward achieving gender equity within the traditionally male-dominated sector. 

While celebrating the initiative, WHISE is urging policymakers and stakeholders to adopt an intersectional approach to ensure that all women can benefit from the strategy, regardless of their backgrounds or identities.

“The strategy must reflect a commitment to valuing the diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives that women bring, regardless of their intersecting identities or backgrounds,” said WHISE CEO Kit McMahon. 

She stressed the importance of embedding inclusivity and a strengths-based approach throughout the strategy’s implementation.

WHISE, a long-time advocate for gender equality and health equity in southern metropolitan Melbourne, believes that providing women with equitable access to opportunities in manufacturing will generate mutual benefits. 

This includes empowering women to thrive in the workforce while contributing to productivity and economic growth within the sector.

“The Women in Manufacturing Strategy is an exciting and necessary step forward,” McMahon stated. 

“We must ensure that this plan supports and empowers all women—not just those with existing access to resources and networks.”

She also highlighted the potential of women from marginalised communities, noting that their talent, resilience, and skills are often overlooked. 

“It’s crucial that we take deliberate action to eliminate barriers to work and create opportunities for all women to succeed. When we do this, it’s not just good for women—it benefits the entire community.”

A key initiative aligned with the government’s strategy is the “Nice Work if You Can Get It” project, led by WHISE in collaboration with the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) and Chisholm TAFE. 

This project aims to address both systemic and practical obstacles that hinder women’s participation in manufacturing, particularly in apprenticeship pathways.

“Through our work on the ‘Nice Work if You Can Get It’ project, we are collaborating with industry and education partners to break down barriers to equity within the manufacturing sector,” McMahon said. 

“It is our mission to ensure that women from all walks of life can see themselves thriving in industries like manufacturing, where diversity is celebrated and strengths are acknowledged.”

WHISE urged the Victorian Government to ensure the strategy tackles all forms of discrimination, warning that inclusivity is essential for building sustainable workplaces where women from all backgrounds can succeed.

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Australia could create over 4,300 quality direct jobs by manufacturing its own wind towers instead of relying on imports, according to new research from the Centre for Future Work. 

The report outlines the economic and environmental benefits of developing a domestic wind energy sector, which currently imports all wind towers from overseas, with most coming from China.

The research found that if Australia shifted to local manufacturing, the country could generate:

• 4,350 ongoing jobs in wind tower production, with additional employment opportunities in related industries, especially steel.
• The ability to produce over 800 wind towers per year, contributing to a cumulative value of up to $15 billion over the next 17 years.
• An incremental demand for 700,000 tonnes of Australian-made steel annually, supporting the revitalisation of steel plants through the adoption of carbon-free technologies.
• A reduction of 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by cutting down on sea shipping of imported wind towers.

The report positions wind energy manufacturing as a key opportunity for the federal government’s Future Made in Australia manufacturing strategy.

It calls on the government, alongside state counterparts, to commission an engineering and financial study into establishing a domestic wind tower manufacturing industry on the east coast.

Professor Phil Toner, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sydney and the report’s author, criticised the conventional economic wisdom that suggests Australia should stick to its “comparative advantage” of exporting raw materials.

“If we follow the advice of conventional economists, we will lock Australia into once again being just a supplier of raw resources to other, more technologically sophisticated countries,” Toner said. 

“These countries will purchase Australian resources at the going global rate, transform them into innovative and expensive products, and then sell them back to us at premium prices.”

Toner stressed that manufacturing wind power equipment in Australia would help achieve a more balanced industrial structure. 

“With all the opportunities of a net-zero global economy, do we really just want to replace traditional mineral exports like coal with new generations of unprocessed minerals like lithium and rare earths?” he asked. 

“Manufacturing our own wind power equipment represents an enormous opportunity for Australia to create good quality, well-paid jobs.”

Toner also pointed out that most industrialised nations are heavily investing in the production of equipment needed for the energy transition.

“Australia needs similar policy activism to maximise the industrial, technological, and employment potential of the energy transition,” he said.

Environmental concerns were another key point raised by Toner. “Anyone concerned about the climate should be up in arms at the fact we’re importing huge heavy steel towers from China when we could be producing them here,” he stated.

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Melbourne-based Pure Dairy, a leader in global dairy trade and food services, has announced a strategic partnership with US cheese packaging giant, Great Lakes Cheese. 

This collaboration is set to enhance Australia’s dairy sector and further expand Pure Dairy’s international presence, the company said in a media release. 

The partnership marks a milestone for Pure Dairy, which has grown from a local business into a global player, spanning 72 countries with four international offices. 

The investment from Great Lakes Cheese will support Pure Dairy’s ongoing expansion, starting with the development of a new state-of-the-art production facility in Victoria, scheduled to open in 2025.

Adrian Josephson, executive chairman of Pure Dairy, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “The investment from Great Lakes Cheese accelerates our plans to acquire further assets and consolidate Australia’s position as one of the world’s top dairy producers.”

Mark Anderson, vice president and chief financial officer of Great Lakes Cheese, highlighted the potential of the partnership, noting: “We were impressed by  Pure Dairy’s existing global footprint and are excited to be part of their expansion.”

“Their strong relationships and  deep understanding of individual markets assured us that Pure Dairy are the right partner for us as we now make our very first investment outside of America,” he noted. 

The new Victorian facility, located near dairy producers and Port Melbourne’s export hub, will house research and development (R&D), manufacturing, logistics, and Pure Dairy’s corporate offices. 

It will feature advanced equipment to ensure lean, sustainable manufacturing practices.

“The new facility will be a great asset to everyone in Australian dairy. Although we’ll have our own production lines, the plant will also be open for collaborative and white-label manufacturing. We’ll continue to serve our customers with data-driven, unbiased advice,” Josephson added.

He further emphasised the benefits of the partnership with Great Lakes Cheese, stating, “Great Lakes Cheese is well positioned to support sales of Australian dairy products to American retailers and food service businesses through their strong network. The synergies that our partnership creates are endless.”

Looking ahead, Josephson concluded, “Today’s dairy industry is about constantly seeking new opportunities and employing innovative thinking. For this, there’s no stronger partner than Pure Dairy. We go beyond transactional business to form strategic relationships and have the global insights required to succeed.”

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Health Support Services (HSS), the shared services provider for the Western Australian (WA) public healthcare system, has issued a callout to local manufacturers. 

The organisation, which delivers procurement, financial, ICT, and workforce services to over 65,000 employees across WA public health services and hospitals, is seeking information about WA-based manufacturers of medical goods, equipment, and technology.

HSS’s Procurement and Supply unit, responsible for managing supply chain services across the WA health system, has initiated market research to better understand the local manufacturing landscape. 

This aligns with the WA government’s strategic focus on bolstering local procurement and manufacturing capabilities within the healthcare sector.

The Request for Information (RFI) – Western Australian Manufacturers of Medical Goods, Equipment, and Technology invites manufacturers to share details about locally made medical products, as well as WA-developed medical technology services currently in use across Australian or international health systems.

By gathering these insights, HSS aims to explore potential opportunities for engaging with local manufacturers to procure their products and services. These findings will be shared across the WA Health system to encourage future collaboration.

Interested parties can find more information on how to submit a response through the Health Support Services website via Tenders WA. 

Submissions for the RFI will close at 5:00 PM AWST, on 4 November 2024.

HSS emphasised that the RFI is purely informational and does not signal a commitment or interest in any specific product, nor does it guarantee procurement from any supplier.

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Fortescue Zero announced plans to begin operations at its US Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Detroit, starting with the production of an advanced High-Voltage (HV) Marine Battery Pack. 

This battery, utilising Fortescue’s Scalable Battery Module (SBM) technology, will be used by EVOA, a leader in marine propulsion, to power luxury marine vessels such as wake boats and tenders.

The HV Marine Battery Pack, designed specifically for EVOA, is capable of delivering 30kWh to 34kWh, supporting powertrains of up to 1,000 horsepower.

“Fortescue Zero is uniquely positioned with the expertise and experience to deliver the zero-emission power systems needed across sectors eager to decarbonize,” said Mark Hutchinson, CEO of Fortescue Energy. 

“The Marine Battery Packs we will manufacture in Detroit for EVOA are just the beginning of what our technology can achieve.”

“Electrifying a wake boat is no easy task,” said Mike Anderson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at EVOA. 

“We needed an energy system that delivers the power to keep a wake boat, fully loaded, running all day long without any issues. Fortescue delivered just that.”

Production at the Detroit facility is expected to begin in Q4 2025.

The site, which was refurbished last year, is set to become a major hub for producing automotive, marine, and heavy industry batteries, as well as fast chargers and other sustainable technologies.

“Our Scalable Battery Module product is flexible and adaptable for a range of products and markets,” added Hutchinson. 

“From racetracks to mine sites, we’ve pushed innovation to the limit. Now, customers will benefit from our real-world experience with a neat solution that minimizes investment and risk.”

Fortescue’s US Advanced Manufacturing Centre aims to play a crucial role in the decarbonisation of industries while creating local manufacturing jobs.

According to the company, the battery packs produced at the facility will be the first of many components aimed at transforming industries.

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As the United States celebrates its 13th annual Manufacturing Week from 4 to 11 October, new data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights growth in the semiconductor manufacturing sector. 

The latest BLS data shows that the number of semiconductor and related device manufacturing establishments rose from 1,876 in the first quarter of 2020 to 2,545 by the first quarter of 2024, reflecting the increasing demand for microchips amid a growing digital economy.

Employee numbers also surged, with the industry employing 202,029 workers as of January 2024, up from 185,370 in January 2020. 

This steady growth in employment showcases the expanding footprint of semiconductor manufacturing in the US economy.

Wage statistics, reported in the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM), reveal that salaries in the semiconductor industry have consistently climbed. 

The average annual wage increased from $107,943 in 2018 to $116,254 in 2021. 

Although the wage growth between 2019 and 2020 was not statistically significant, the continued upward trend reflects the high demand for skilled workers in this advanced manufacturing sector.

In parallel, the value of shipments in the US semiconductor industry rose sharply. 

According to the ASM, the value of shipments jumped from $52.7 billion in 2018 to $58.7 billion in 2021. This increase is attributed to the rising demand for microchips in a wide array of industries, including electronics, automotive, and telecommunications.

The semiconductor industry has also seen investments in robotics and equipment, driven by the need for advanced manufacturing processes. 

Data from the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES) shows that expenditures on robotics in semiconductor manufacturing grew from $579 million in 2020 to $1.0 billion in 2022.

Total equipment expenditures for the industry also rose, doubling from $14.4 billion in 2020 to $30.3 billion in 2022. These investments underscore the sector’s commitment to boosting productivity and maintaining its competitive edge on a global scale.

As the semiconductor industry continues to grow, upcoming data releases will begin capturing the effects of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. 

This legislation aims to strengthen U.S. supply chains, create more jobs in the manufacturing sector, and lower consumer costs by bolstering domestic semiconductor production.

The next major release of Census data on the semiconductor industry will be the Geographic Area Statistics from the 2022 Economic Census, scheduled for December 2024. 

This release will provide detailed statistics at the national and state levels, offering insights into the distribution of semiconductor manufacturing activity across the country.

In celebration of Manufacturing Week, the Census Bureau is highlighting its Manufacturing webpage, which features a wealth of data, tools, and resources on the sector. 

The initiative encourages companies and educational institutions to engage with students, parents, and community leaders to promote careers in manufacturing, aiming to inspire the next generation of workers in the sector.

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Pure Dairy’s new 13,000-square-metre manufacturing and cheese processing facility in Dandenong South is on track for completion, with production set to begin in April 2025. 

Structural work on the site has been finalised, and installation of specialised automated processing equipment is nearing completion.

The facility, located in Dandenong South’s industrial precinct, will feature advanced dairy technology not previously seen in Australia. 

According to Pure Dairy’s Executive Chairman, Adrian Josephson, the new factory represents a significant step for the company and the local dairy industry.

“For over ten years, we’ve been liaising closely with clients to perfect their businesses across every area of dairy, right around the world,” Josephson said.

“That’s given us the insights required to combine the most efficient equipment and best practices in a facility of our own. Pure Dairy’s new factory is the physical expression of our international thought leadership – a major asset to every stakeholder in Australian dairy.”

Progress update

• Construction: The main structure is now complete, with the internal configuration of the space underway. A test kitchen dedicated to dairy product innovation is also in development.
• Equipment Installation: The installation of fully automated processing systems is progressing, with a focus on increasing production efficiency and ensuring consistent, high-quality output.
• Sustainability: Pure Dairy is integrating energy- and water-saving technologies as part of its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Next steps

The project will soon move into the final stages of equipment installation and operational testing.

The facility will manufacture a range of premium dairy products, including mozzarella, cheddar, and specialty cheeses, for both domestic and international markets.

Once operational, the plant is expected to create over 100 jobs, boosting the local economy in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.

It will also provide new opportunities for suppliers and manufacturing partners in the region.

Pure Dairy’s new facility is seen as a key development for the company and the Australian dairy industry, with Josephson stating that it will help position the country as a leader in high-quality dairy production globally.

“Pure Dairy is passionate about local produce,” added Josephson.

“We also see a wealth of untapped potential for Australian dairy on both the domestic and international markets. Beyond the positive economic impact on the local community, Pure Dairy’s new facility is set to reinvigorate our position as a leading nation in the supply of high-quality dairy products,” he concluded.

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