Innovative Australian manufacturers supported by AMGC fund

Australia’s manufacturing industry continues to step up to innovate, invest and grow local opportunities with global potential with the announcement of the latest round of co-invested projects through the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s Commercialisation Fund.

Administered in consultation with all Industry Growth Centres, the 4th and 5th tranche of funding from the federal government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative has been awarded to 10 Australian manufacturers.

With just over half of the $30 million Commercialisation Fund now allocated to 31 projects, AMGC can reveal that industry contribution has exceeded minimum matched co-investment to almost double the federal government’s commitment. Combined, the 31 successful projects will see $49.8 million invested into the crucial, job-generating industry, with $33 million coming from the industry itself.

Addressing many of the six National Manufacturing Priorities, the successful round four and five recipients include:

• Sea Forest Ltd (Tas) – Food and Beverage: Develop and manufacture a novel method to deliver oil-based Asparagopsis seaweed as an additive to feed solutions for milk, beef and wool livestock to radically reduce digestive-related methane emissions.
• MolyCop (NSW) – Recycling: Develop and scale recycling rubber from tyres, conveyor belts and boots, for use as hydrogen and carbon inputs for the manufacturing of green steel.
• Sleeptite (Vic) – Medical: Commercialisation of the revolutionary REMi system which embeds stretchable, soft sensors into a medical-grade mattress protector for the aged-care sector. REMi will assist the aged-care workforce with fall prevention, pressure sore management and night-time monitoring by collecting data in a non-invasive and unobtrusive way.
• Nexxis (WA) – Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing: Nexxis, in partnership with CSIRO’s Data61, will commercialise Magneto, its multi-limbed, climbing asset inspections robot. Used where access is difficult or hazardous, Magneto is capable of complex, confined space entry and inspection across onshore and offshore oil rigs, subsea installations, mining operations, infrastructure and defence projects.
• mDetect (Vic) – Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing: Development of a scalable manufacturing process for Muon Devices to provide early warning system for monitoring tailings dams in mining.
• Savic (Vic) – Clean Energy: Design, development and production of the first Australian-manufactured, high-performance, roadworthy, battery-electric motorcycle.
• Samsara (NSW) – Recycling: In partnership with Australian National University (ANU), Woolworths and Main Sequence Ventures, Samsara will establish a pilot plant using a novel plastics recycling facility and process using revolutionary enzyme technology.
• Ellen Medical Devices (NSW) – Medical Products: Manufacture and validation of inexpensive portable peritoneal dialysis system for developing countries where a significant need for affordable home-based dialysis is urgently required.
• Zetifi (NSW) – Food and Beverage: Commercialisation of a high-availability wireless network gateway for regional and remote businesses.
• Kinaltek (NSW) – Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing: Prove and scale-up proprietary technology for the production of metal alloy powders based on 27 different elements used in additive manufacturing. The success of the project will enable the commencement of local manufacturing and export operations for metallic alloy powders.
   

These 10 co-invested projects represent a total investment of $16.2 million, with 60% of total funds ($10.1 million) contributed by the manufacturing industry and the remainder ($6.1 million) from AMGC’s $30 million Commercialisation Fund.

“We have been impressed by the depth and breadth of manufacturing proposals received to date,” said AMGC Managing Director, Dr Jens Goennemann. “These projects represent the capability of Australian manufacturers to make complex things — from feed products that reduce methane emissions in livestock, to portable dialysis machines for emerging economies. Australian manufacturers are exceedingly innovative and competitive when given the right support.

“The latest round of investment via the Commercialisation Fund brings the total number of projects supported to 31. Each of these projects will generate significant opportunities, injecting close to $50 million into local operations to commercialise, scale and take Australian products global.”

For more information and to apply for a grant, go to https://www.amgc.org.au/projects/.

Image: Savic Motorcycles