China's second and fifth largest steel mills are planning an ambitious merger that would form a global giant. Anshan Iron & Steel Group and Benxi Iron & Steel Group will merge to form Anshan-Benxi Steel Group. Both mills are owned by the government.

Toyota has reached the 15 million mark in North American production. This milestone marks 20 years of manufacturing in North America, supported by a $16 billion investment in North American operations.

By controlling materials at the nanoscale, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers in the US believe they can improve manufacturing processes of products ranging from solar cells to computers to flat-panel displays.

The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) has chosen Emerson Process Management to automate the CEMIST (Chemical Engineering Measurement by In-Situ Techniques) process plant within its Chemical Engineering Department.

The global patent to a world-first water remediation technology developed in Australia has been acquired by ASX-listed IMT Holdings Limited.

China announced a 15-year plan recently to invest in technology development.

A series of training sessions is being offered by Endress+Hauser during 2006 that will be of interest to engineers, managers and maintenance teams.

The Australian aluminium industry is becoming less cost competitive as new countries enter the market with cheaper smelters, according to recent research.

Control Microsystems, a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) equipment manufacturer headquartered in Canada, and Serck Controls, a SCADA systems engineering company headquartered in Australia, formed a global strategic alliance in 2004 to leverage technology, manufacturing and market opportunities.

At the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) taskgroup meeting in Hawaii recently, there was an agreement over the next high speed Wi-Fi standard, 802.11n.

Sydney-based Dr John Blakemore has been appointed the new national president of the Manufacturing Society of Australia.

One of New Zealand's leading entrepreneurs and exporters has been appointed chairman of the country's largest aircraft manufacturer, Pacific Aerospace Corporation (PAC). Neville Jordan, who also chairs Endeavour Capital, is assisting in day-to-day operations of the Hamilton-based aircraft maker and also managing European sales.

The University of Newcastle's Science and Engineering Challenge will receive an additional $1 million in funding from the Department of Education, Science and Training.

Control Microsystems has established a technology centre in Newcastle for its sales, marketing and support for its Asia-Pacific customers. From this office, Control Microsystems is planning to leverage Australasian technology, manufacturing and market opportunities.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has approved Standardisation Agreement (STANAG) 2233 for RFID.