The sale of the Whyalla Steelworks has advanced to its final stage with two bidders shortlisted, marking a key step in the transition of one of South Australia’s major industrial manufacturing assets.

In a news release, the South Australian Government and the Australian Government confirmed the process has progressed following the decision to place the former owner into administration last year, describing it as a necessary intervention to secure the steelworks’ long-term future. 

They said the action has helped restore confidence in Whyalla and attracted international interest in maintaining sovereign steelmaking and manufacturing capability in South Australia.

More than 70 parties initially expressed interest in the sale, with five domestic and international industrial groups progressing to the binding bid stage earlier this year before two were shortlisted to move forward. The shortlisted bidders have now been invited to submit final funding proposals as part of the competitive process.

The two governments are jointly investing up to $1.9 billion alongside a future owner to support the transformation of the site into a modern, low-emissions steel manufacturing facility, with ongoing administration funding also ensuring safe operations and payment of workers and suppliers during the transition period.

Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres said the process was central to the broader industrial strategy. “A Future Made in Australia means making the things Australia needs here,” he said. 

“The Whyalla intervention is central to that: securing sovereign steelmaking, backing workers, and building the next chapter of low emissions Australian manufacturing,” Minister Ayres noted.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the shortlisted bidders were well placed to support the industry’s next phase. 

“We are pleased to see two high quality bidders shortlisted for the sales process,” he said, adding that the transition would support a long-term, modern and lower-emissions sovereign steelmaking business while recognising the challenges involved in the sector’s transformation.

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Queensland-based Vital Chemical has announced a new manufacturing-focused trans-Tasman partnership with New Zealand materials innovator Rubisco, aimed at introducing hemp and wool-based geotextile technology to Australia for the first time.

The partnership will see Vital Chemical market and distribute the products locally under the VE Geo-Loc Made by Rubisco brand, positioning the natural fibre system as an alternative to synthetic geotextiles used across civil infrastructure, landscaping, construction, and environmental rehabilitation projects. 

The range will include a hemp and wool blend as well as a 100% wool option for applications such as erosion control, sediment management and weed suppression.

Vital Chemical Director Paul McMullen said the collaboration reflects the company’s ongoing focus on manufacturing-adjacent innovation and materials designed for practical field performance.

“Our focus has always been on identifying proven technologies globally and making them accessible to the Australian market,” McMullen said.

“VE Geo-Loc Made by Rubisco provides a compelling natural alternative to traditional synthetic geotextiles, and through Vital’s distribution network we are well positioned to support adoption across construction, landscaping and environmental restoration projects nationwide.”

Rubisco, which operates manufacturing facilities in Christchurch and Ashburton, brings more than 50 years of wool fibre processing heritage and has expanded into industrial hemp fibre systems in recent years. The company’s vertically integrated platform spans fibre cultivation, processing and advanced materials manufacturing.

Rubisco CEO Guy Wills said the partnership highlights how natural fibre manufacturing systems are evolving to meet infrastructure and environmental needs.

“Natural fibres such as hemp and wool offer a high-performance alternative to many synthetic materials traditionally used in geotextile applications,” Wills said.

“Working with strong partners such as Vital Chemical enables these solutions to reach new markets and support more sustainable approaches to land management and infrastructure development.”

According to the companies, the VE Geo-Loc Made by Rubisco system is manufactured from South Island-grown industrial hemp blended with New Zealand strong wool. It is produced as a needle-punched nonwoven geotextile designed for erosion control, soil stabilisation and weed suppression, while remaining biodegradable.

Unlike conventional synthetic geotextiles, the product contains no plastics or synthetic polymers, which the companies say eliminates microplastic risks and supports soil health as the fibres naturally break down over time. With a functional lifespan of 18 to 24 months, it is intended to provide durability during vegetation establishment before returning organic matter to the soil.

The companies said demand is increasing for lower-impact materials across infrastructure and environmental restoration projects, with natural fibre geotextiles emerging as a potential alternative to traditional synthetic solutions.

For more information, visit Vital Chemical.

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Smart building materials manufacturer ClearVue Technologies says it has been selected to supply and install building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products for Canva’s new headquarters in Surry Hills, Sydney, under a non-binding Letter of Intent issued by Infinity Construction Group.

According to an ASX release from ClearVue, the company was named the successful tenderer for the project, with detailed contract terms expected to be finalised within 14 days. 

The project has an estimated value of around A$600,000 and is expected to involve the manufacture and installation of approximately 310 solar panels across more than 660 square metres of the building envelope.

ClearVue said the project will include three of its product families: Solar Skylight, Solar Balustrade and rooftop solar systems. The company estimates the installed system will have a capacity of about 75kW and generate a minimum of approximately 88,000kWh annually.

The redevelopment forms part of an adaptive reuse project aimed at transforming an existing commercial building into a high-performance energy-generating facility. ClearVue said the system is expected to contribute to the building exceeding a 5 Star NABERS rating.

The company stated that each of the products required project-specific engineering and manufacturing modifications. These included a custom balustrade framing system designed to conceal electrical wiring and integrate the company’s Thermal Management Junction Box technology.

ClearVue said its Solar Skylight system was also designed with advanced coating technology intended to reduce solar heat transmission and glare while continuing to generate renewable energy.

Infinity Construction Group founder and managing director Alan Yazbek said the collaboration demonstrated how energy-generating materials could be incorporated into commercial developments.

“Working on a bespoke façade and glazing solution for this project has been refreshing,” Yazbek said.

“The ability to integrate power-generating capability directly into the building envelope, without compromising buildability or design outcomes, represents a meaningful step forward for the industry.”

ClearVue CEO and managing director Doug Hunt said the project reflected the company’s manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.

“Our supply chain of expert large scale OEM manufacturers and our industry partners enable us to deliver project specific solutions,” Hunt said.

“The bespoke engineering ClearVue will deliver for the Canva headquarters, particularly the new Balustrade framing system and the advanced solar control coatings, is a clear illustration of our supply chain capabilities and shows that our technology continues to advance with every project we take on.”

ClearVue said project delivery is expected to take approximately 180 days following execution of the final contract.

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Fujitsu Limited has announced dual strategic collaborations with artificial intelligence developers Anthropic PBC and OpenAI, aiming to accelerate AI transformation across Japanese enterprises.

According to the company, these joint efforts will focus heavily on strengthening enterprise AI adoption while improving the safety, security, and resilience of critical social infrastructure.

By positioning both companies’ advanced technologies within its AI service lineup, Fujitsu intends to merge cutting-edge AI models with its own long-standing industry expertise and large-scale operating systems.

The initiative comes at a time when AI has shifted from a basic tool for operational efficiency into a core technology that shapes corporate competitiveness and infrastructure stability.

Fujitsu noted that while cutting-edge AI offers significant capabilities, improper deployment can lead to unintended consequences. Because of these risks, sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, defence, and critical infrastructure require highly dependable AI systems, supported by an ongoing operational framework to deliver long-term value safely.

To gain practical expertise, Fujitsu plans to extensively deploy both platforms across its own global organisation. The company will utilise Anthropic’s Claude models internally to accumulate hands-on operational knowledge, which it will then use to guide AI adoption across the wider Japanese business sector.

The company intends to use this hands-on experience to accumulate practical knowledge, which it will then use to guide AI adoption across the wider Japanese business sector.

As part of the partnership, Fujitsu will gain early access to Anthropic’s newest AI models. The Japanese company also plans to combine these new models with its own AI tech, including the Fujitsu Kozuchi AI platform and the Takane large language model (LLM).

This hybrid approach will allow Fujitsu to customise, design, and integrate multiple AI systems to meet specific client demands regarding data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, security, and operational performance.

Takahito Tokita, representative director and CEO of Fujitsu, spoke on the evolution and growth of AI and the need to implement it to generate tangible value.

“Through this collaboration, we will combine Fujitsu’s deep expertise across industries and business functions—particularly its extensive know-how in mission-critical domains—with Anthropic’s advanced AI models. In doing so, we aim to support the creation of new value across industries and realise a trustworthy, AI-driven society,” Tokita said.

Concurrently, Fujitsu Group employees will adopt OpenAI technologies, including ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex. This will establish a new practical model where human workers and AI agents collaborate across multiple domains, including system development, operations, proposal activities, and delivery.

Fujitsu said it intends to build upon its current AI Trust initiatives, which focus on developing a secure AI society. 

The company plans to explore how its own technologies, including high-performance computing (HPC) and next-generation hybrid computing platforms such as quantum computing, can be applied to advanced AI fields.

According to Fujitsu, these efforts are intended to support the broader integration of AI by focusing on system safety and reliability.

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Dematic has marked 60 years of operations in Australia, highlighting its ongoing role in manufacturing and supply chain automation.

In a media release, the company said the milestone reflects its evolution from a Sydney-based engineering and manufacturing business founded in 1966 as Colby Engineering, established by Gerry Hatton AM, into a global provider of automation technologies used across retail, grocery, healthcare, e-commerce and industrial sectors. 

Dematic stated that its early manufacturing roots included mechanical and structural steel expertise and the development of the ColbyRACK adjustable racking system, which remains part of its local offering.

“Dematic has always been built on a culture of innovation, partnership, and a commitment to customers,” founder Gerry Hatton AM said in comments attributed by Dematic. “From the very beginning, there was a strong belief that we could design and build world-class solutions locally, while continuing to evolve with the changing needs of industry.”

Dematic said it now employs more than 850 people across Australia and New Zealand and continues to invest in local manufacturing capability, engineering, and apprenticeship programs as demand increases for automation, robotics and AI-driven optimisation in supply chains.

According to Dematic Vice President and Managing Director for ANZ Simon Barrow, the company’s technology underpins a significant volume of goods moving through modern distribution networks. 

“A significant number of products move through supply chains powered by Dematic technology every day,” Barrow said. 

“Whether consumers are shopping online, purchasing groceries, accessing medical supplies or receiving essential goods, there is a high probability that Dematic technology has played a role somewhere along that journey,” he noted.

The company said its growth has tracked broader changes in Australia’s supply chain and manufacturing sector, shifting from traditional warehousing models toward highly automated distribution systems supported by robotics, goods-to-person solutions, and integrated software platforms.

Barrow also said ongoing investment in engineering capability remains central to the business. “For 60 years, we have remained focused on helping customers solve complex operational and supply chain challenges,” he said, adding that manufacturing, engineering and training programs continue to support long-term capability development within the company.

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foodpro 2026 will return to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from 26 to 29 July, bringing together Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector for what organisers describe as the country’s only major food processing and packaging trade event of the year.

According to foodpro, the four-day event is expected to attract more than 9,000 industry professionals and feature over 400 exhibitors covering food processing, packaging, digital factory technology, cold chain logistics, sustainability and food science.

The event will include ten exhibition segments, with live equipment demonstrations scheduled across the show floor. Organisers said a new FMCG segment will be introduced in 2026, focusing on high-speed portioning, packing, labelling and retail-ready solutions for consumer goods manufacturers.

“foodpro is where the industry’s decision-makers come to evaluate, invest and connect,” said foodpro Event Director Louise Brooks. “With 400-plus exhibitors representing every part of the supply chain, this is four days that can meaningfully shape the direction of a business.”

In a new partnership for 2026, the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) Conference will be co-located with foodpro across all four days. 

The conference will bring together food science professionals, researchers, regulators and industry stakeholders, allowing attendees to move between conference sessions and the exhibition floor at the same venue.

Organisers said the arrangement is intended to connect food science research and development with manufacturing and production applications.

The Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) will also contribute to the program through a series of training courses and seminars focused on sustainability, innovation and regulatory compliance. The sessions will run throughout the event and are aimed at packaging professionals seeking certification-backed learning opportunities.

For the first time, the Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards Gala Dinner will also be held alongside foodpro on 28 July. The awards recognise packaging innovation across the region and serve as a pathway to the WorldStar Packaging Awards.

An Innovation Stage will run throughout the event, featuring up to five presentations daily from industry leaders and technology providers. Topics are expected to include automation, sustainability, emerging ingredients and technologies shaping large-scale food manufacturing.

foodpro 2026 will open with an Industry Connect Evening on 26 July at Melbourne Public on the Yarra River, providing networking opportunities for exhibitors and visitors.

Visitor registration for the event is now open and free for industry professionals involved in food manufacturing, packaging, research and development, supply chain, technology and sustainability.

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Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) has announced the appointment of Donghyeon (DH) Kim as its new Chief Executive Officer, with the company highlighting a continued focus on manufacturing capability, local production development, and program delivery in Australia’s defence sector.

In a statement from Hanwha Defence Australia, Mr. Kim succeeds outgoing CEO Ben Hudson and brings nearly 30 years of experience across research, production, and business leadership within Hanwha Aerospace, where he most recently led the Land Systems Business Group.

“Mr. Kim most recently served as head of Hanwha Aerospace’s Land Systems Business Group, which is responsible for Hanwha Aerospace’s full land defence portfolio,” the company said, noting his previous roles leading R&D and production operations across the organisation.

Mr. Kim will oversee delivery of the Huntsman and Redback armoured vehicle programs for the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as operations at the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Geelong, which is expected to play a central role in local manufacturing, supply chain development, and maintenance capability.

According to Hanwha Defence Australia, his background in production and research aligns with the company’s operational requirements as it expands its Australian footprint and strengthens domestic industrial capability.

“His experience in research, production, and business growth maps directly onto HDA’s needs,” the company said.

Mr. Kim has previously been involved in international programs including the K9 platform delivered to multiple countries such as Poland, Romania, Norway, Finland, and India, and will now focus on integrating global supply chain systems with Australian operations.

He said the priority would be delivering existing programs while supporting the development of local manufacturing and sustainment capacity.

“We are here to deliver these programs on schedule, build R&D capability and capacity in Australia, and make H-ACE a manufacturing and MRO&U (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade) centre that the local industry and economy benefit from,” Mr. Kim said.

“Australia is well placed to become a defence export base, not simply a customer. My role is to lay the foundation and grow the Australian leadership team that will take this company forward. That is what success looks like for HDA.”

Hanwha Defence Australia said Mr. Kim will also focus on strengthening coordination between its Australian operations and headquarters, enabling faster delivery across engineering, production, and supply chain functions as programs scale locally.

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Food manufacturer JBS Foods Australia has launched an onsite English language school at its Queensland processing facility as part of an initiative aimed at addressing skills shortages across its Australian operations, according to the Australian Industry Group.

In a news release, the company said it had become an Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) provider to deliver tailored English language training for international workers at its Dinmore processing facility in Ipswich, near Brisbane. The program, known as the JBS English Academy, is focused initially on skilled meat workers from Brazil.

JBS Foods Australia Group Manager for Talent Acquisition Jackson Hewitt said the company had been working for several years to recruit specialist workers from Brazil to help meet ongoing labour shortages in Australia.

“With the significant and ongoing labour shortages here in Australia, we’ve been working with our counterparts in Brazil for a number of years to try to fill some of our specialist roles,” Hewitt said.

“The major hurdle has always been the English language barrier.”

The academy welcomed its first intake of 14 students in March, followed by a second group of 16 workers last month. Further intakes are being considered.

According to Hewitt, the company had previously trialled online English courses in Brazil, but found the format challenging for workers balancing full-time employment, limited internet access and long commutes.

“As you can imagine, online learning is challenging when you’re working fulltime,” he said.

JBS also experimented with placing workers into external English language programs linked to its pork processing facility in Melbourne before deciding to establish its own training model through its registered training organisation.

“We thought: ‘We can do this more effectively ourselves,’” Hewitt said.

“It meant we could provide them with tailored English learning while offering them continued employment in their specialist roles.”

The company said workers in the program study under 12-month student visas while continuing to work in specialist meat processing roles. Participants complete at least 20 hours of classes each week and can work up to 48 hours a fortnight.

Hewitt said accommodation had been arranged close to both the workplace and classrooms to help students manage study and work commitments.

“We’ve tried to make it as convenient as possible to maximise their chance of success,” he said.

The long-term aim is for the program to expand to other countries and occupations across the business.

“We want it to be available to all,” Hewitt said.

He added that the program was designed not only to address workforce needs but also to create opportunities for employees seeking international experience and career progression.

“It’s not just about filling labour shortages, it’s about providing opportunities for people who otherwise wouldn’t have them,” he said.

Australian Industry Group said the initiative demonstrated how workplace-based education and training could support both businesses and employees.

The organisation’s Centre for Education and Training said it had long advocated for stronger connections between education, training and workplace needs, adding that the JBS program showed how contextualised learning delivered onsite could benefit workforce development.

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The NSW Government has approved the $693 million Copi Mineral Sands Project in the State’s Far South West, in what is being positioned as a major development for Australia’s critical minerals supply chain and the energy transition.

The approval, announced by NSW Government, covers a project located around 180 kilometres south-west of Broken Hill. It is expected to process up to 27 million tonnes of material and produce up to 400,000 tonnes a year of critical mineral ore over an 18-year period.

The project will extract titanium-bearing minerals including ilmenite, rutile and zircon, as well as rare earth concentrates such as monazite. These materials are used in technologies including electric vehicles, wind turbines, telecommunications equipment, medical devices and defence applications.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the project would support both industry needs and regional infrastructure.

“This project will help secure the supply of critical minerals to help power the clean energy, telecommunications and medical device technologies while supporting hundreds of jobs in NSW’s Far West,” he said.

“Copi is a great example of the continued growth in NSW critical minerals sector, which is helping to create a sustainable future for NSW, Australia and the world.”

Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said the state was seeking to translate its mineral resources into long-term investment and industry growth.

“NSW is home to some of the world’s most significant critical mineral deposits, and we are focused on turning that potential into long-term investment and industry growth,” she said.

“With 21 of the 31 nationally identified critical minerals, NSW is uniquely positioned to be a globally significant supplier.”

She said the project would contribute significantly to production volumes over time and strengthen supply chains for key industries.

The project is expected to create 480 jobs during construction and about 200 ongoing roles, with around half of the workforce anticipated to come from surrounding communities.

It also includes associated infrastructure works, such as upgrades to local roads for transport to the South Australian border and use of an existing rail facility in Broken Hill.

The project still requires approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The approval marks the second critical minerals project signed off by the Minns Labor Government in four months, following the Aeris Resources Constellation Project, which will supply copper ore.

The government also pointed to its 2024 Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy, which includes measures such as a $250 million royalty deferral, pre-competitive data access and matching grants to support exploration.

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Top players in the global processing and packaging industry are set to gather at ProPak China 2026, the 31st International Processing and Packaging Exhibition, in Shanghai from June 15 to 17.

The event, organised by Sinoexpo Informa Markets, aims to showcase the growing strength of Asia’s processing and packaging sector amid a significant digital and sustainability transition.

Co-hosted with FoodPack China, Hi & Fi Asia-China, HNC Expo, and Starch Expo, the 20,0000 sqm exhibition space will showcase the complete range of the industrial ecosystem, including raw materials, processing, packaging, and finished products. 

The conference will feature over 2,500 exhibitors from various countries and regions, including China, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Sinoexpo said it expects to host more than 120,000 professional buyers from around the world.

The exhibition will have eight core sectors: packaging machinery, food processing, intelligent equipment, filling, fermentation, daily chemical packaging, packaging materials and label printing.

Leading participants are expected to showcase their flagship processing and packaging equipment and innovative technologies, offering diverse options for end users across food, beverage, dairy, daily chemicals, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and other sectors.

The event comes amid significant growth of the sector in China and in response to strong demand for cross-border integration. 

Data from China Customs Statistics show that the country’s export value of food processing and packaging equipment increased by 18% in 2025 compared with the year prior. Smart packaging machinery made up more than 40% of those total exports. 

Sinoexpo said the upcoming event will feature several professional forums focusing on smart manufacturing, packaging design, green packaging materials, prepared dish industrialisation, and daily chemical processing and packaging.

Additionally, a dedicated immersive experience zone will let visitors see real-world applications in smart factories, innovative design and green packaging, and daily chemical product experiences.

For more information about ProPak China 2026, visit ProPak China’s page by clicking here.

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