Women in the manufacturing industry are set to get a career boost through a new scholarship initiative, sponsored jointly by APICS NSW and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD).

29 - 30 November 2006
Brisbane, Australia

Manufacturing activity in Australia strengthened in June, despite further rises in raw material costs and higher interest rates.

A breakthrough in robot MIG (metal inert gas) welding which will increase welding speed and consequently boost productivity in the metal fabrication sector is the latest investment project for the Centre for Energy and Greenhouse Technologies (CEGT).

The South Australian government has approved a $115 million funding boost for a new shipbuilding facility in Adelaide. Techport Australia, at suburban Osborne, will be the home base for the $6 billion air warfare destroyer project.

Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out taking nuclear waste from foreign countries, quashing a politically damaging issue he discussed with the United States earlier this year.

Beckhoff Automation has opened an Australian headquarters in Melbourne to bring its international presence to more than 60 companies worldwide.

Extrusion processing training courses are planned for later this year in Western Australia and Thailand.

The Bracks government has granted $44,750 to the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL) to help 10 Victorian precision engineering companies showcase their talents internationally.

Buoyant manufacturing activity in Europe and Japan is feeding inflationary pressures, underpinning expectations that official interest rates have further to rise.

Construction firm Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd has been awarded a $130 million contract to build a water pipeline in western Sydney.

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and Engineers Australia plan to work more closely together to advance the development of better public policy in relation to engineering and technology issues.

BHP Billiton Ltd has been fined $200,000 after admitting to negligence that led to a fatal gas explosion at its iron plant in Western Australia's north.

Due to the continuing growth of AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd, the company is on the move.

Chris Bosua was frustrated by the inefficiency of his air compressor. So he devised a system that improved the efficiency by 80% while reducing the power used by almost half.