Nutrien has officially opened its $70 million West Coast Bulk Fertiliser Facility in East Rockingham, Western Australia, increasing its bulk fertiliser storage capacity in the state by approximately 20 per cent.

The facility, which progressively scaled up operations throughout 2026, brings Nutrien’s total bulk fertiliser storage capacity in Western Australia to 130,000 tonnes. The company said the investment is intended to strengthen domestic storage capacity and improve supply chain resilience for local growers.

According to Nutrien, the long-term leased facility has already helped the company meet all forward fertiliser supply commitments amid global market volatility and supply chain disruptions.

The facility was developed following a 2024 fire at the Kwinana Bulk Jetty precinct and was officially opened by Nutrien Managing Director Adrian Capogreco and President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Seitz, alongside customers, employees, industry stakeholders and project partners.

Capogreco said the investment reflected the company’s long-term commitment to Western Australian agriculture.

“This facility represents a significant investment in the future of WA farming and a clear vote of confidence in the growers who make this state such a powerhouse of Australian agriculture,” he said.

He said the industry had faced disruptive weather events, changing market conditions and ongoing global uncertainty throughout 2026, highlighting the importance of strengthening domestic supply capabilities.

“One of my key focuses at Nutrien is owning the things we can control, and that includes boosting our domestic sovereignty,” Capogreco said.

He added that the facility had played an important role in helping Nutrien meet its forward fertiliser supply contracts earlier in the year, alongside the company’s global network and increased storage flexibility in Western Australia.

Nutrien West Region Director Andrew Duperouzel acknowledged the support of the company’s customers, noting that some relationships with Western Australian farmers had spanned generations.

“That trust is maintained only by delivering on our commitments for the long term,” Duperouzel said.

He said the company’s investments ultimately supported on-farm operations, farming families and regional communities across the state.

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Researchers at The University of Queensland (UQ) have developed a water-absorbing hydrogel from a bio-derived plastic, with potential applications in medical technologies, wound recovery and drug delivery.

The material, known as P3HB-HEAA, was developed by UQ PhD student Cole Walchle, who modified the bioplastic poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) to address its brittle physical properties and expand its potential applications.

According to UQ, the research involved using gamma radiation to graft N-Hydroxyethyl acrylamide, a polymer commonly used in hydrogel preparation, onto PHB. The resulting material demonstrated increased toughness and water absorption capacity.

“We’ve basically created something that is simultaneously tougher than the materials we had to begin with, yet also particularly good at absorbing water,” Mr Walchle said.

The researchers identified potential uses in tissue engineering, wound recovery, slow-release drug delivery and surgical applications. The material could also be used in hygiene products and as a specialty coating or lubricant.

Mr Walchle said the development demonstrated how bio-derived plastics could be modified to create more sustainable materials with broader industrial applications.

“There’s huge potential for naturally-derived plastics to be useful at an industrial scale, but with many of them we just aren’t there yet,” he said.

“Our work demonstrates that there is scope to tweak them to create new, sustainable products that work for us now.”

However, further research is required to establish the material’s properties, particularly its biodegradability.

“Further investigation is needed to fully understand the behaviour of this material, in particular its ability to biodegrade,” Mr Walchle said.

He added that confirming the new hydrogel retained the biodegradability of its original polymer would provide further support for the approach.

The research has been published in Macromolecular Rapid Communications.

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Australian advanced composites company ACS Australia has established a US headquarters and advanced composites manufacturing facility in Arlington, Texas, expanding its manufacturing presence in the United States.

The company’s US subsidiary, Advanced Composite Structures America Inc. (ACS America), will operate from the new 40,000-square-foot facility, which will support manufacturing for defence, maritime and other advanced manufacturing applications.

According to ACS Australia, the investment establishes a permanent operational and manufacturing presence in the US, allowing the company to work more closely with American customers and industry partners while contributing to domestic manufacturing capacity.

ACS Australia brings 35 years of engineering and manufacturing experience in advanced composites, including composite design, tooling and production for defence and maritime applications.

ACS Australia Chairman Murray Scott said the establishment of the US operation builds on the company’s existing relationships with American organisations.

“Establishing ACS America in Arlington builds on those relationships and reflects our commitment to forming enduring partnerships with U.S. customers, industry and government,” Scott said.

General Manager Paul Falzon said the facility would expand the group’s manufacturing capabilities and provide a foundation for further investment.

“The new facility expands our advanced composites manufacturing capability in the United States, strengthens our ability to support our U.S. customers, and provides a foundation for long-term growth, investment and skilled employment in North Texas,” Falzon said.

The expansion follows a period of growth for ACS Australia and builds on its relationship with defence technology company Anduril, including its participation in the Ghost Shark program.

ACS America is currently building its US workforce and expects to recruit across manufacturing, operations, quality, engineering and business support as the facility is established and production activities increase.

The company also acknowledged support from the City of Arlington and Arlington Economic Development Corporation during its site-selection and establishment process, as well as assistance from Austrade, Global Victoria and SelectUSA.

ACS Australia said the Arlington facility represents a long-term commitment to US-based manufacturing and will provide a platform to develop local skills and pursue opportunities across advanced manufacturing markets.

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RMIT University will lead a nearly $5 million research hub focused on renewable energy, advanced materials and resource recovery, bringing together universities, industry and government partners to support Australia’s energy transition.

The RENEW Organics Hub has received almost $5 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) under the latest round of its Industrial Transformation Research Hubs initiative.

In a news release, the university said the hub will focus on three areas: carbon recovery and advanced materials, renewable energy and fuels, and nutrient recovery and biofertilisers. It aims to develop research that can be translated into practical applications.

RMIT Professor Kalpit Shah, Deputy Head of Chemical and Environment Engineering, Research and Innovation, will serve as the hub’s director, leading a consortium that includes the University of Technology Sydney, The University of Queensland, The University of New South Wales, The University of Western Australia and Curtin University.

Industry partners include Melbourne Water, Urban Utilities, Water Research Australia, Intelligent Water Networks, Saunders International, Hart Bioenergy, Water Corporation, EPA Victoria and Barwon Water.

RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor STEM College and Vice-President Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos said the initiative demonstrated the university’s focus on research addressing national priorities, including energy security.

“RMIT is committed to delivering research and innovation that meets the needs of industry while advancing environmental protection for the wellbeing of individuals, societies and ecosystems,” Itsiopoulos said.

The hub builds on more than a decade of research and industry collaboration through RMIT’s Innovative Resource and Waste Technologies research group, the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource and the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Transformation of Reclaimed Waste Resources to Engineered Materials and Solutions for a Circular Economy.

According to RMIT, its researchers have worked with more than 50 industry partners over the past decade, developing patented technologies and progressing innovations from laboratory research to pilot-scale demonstrations, licensing and commercial deployment.

One example is PYROCO, an Australian technology developed at RMIT that aims to enable the production of biochar for use as an alternative to petroleum-based products in electronic, construction and automotive applications.

Shah said RENEW would build on these existing capabilities to accelerate the development and commercialisation of waste-to-resource technologies.

“RENEW represents the next major step in building on the foundations set by RMIT researchers to scale our research, innovation and industry impact nationally, enabling safe, sustainable and economically viable resource recovery from diverse organic waste streams,” he said.

The RENEW Organics Hub is scheduled to launch in 2027.

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Planet Innovation’s manufacturing capabilities are set to expand following its full acquisition by Meiban Corp Holdings, bringing together the Australian medtech product development company and the Singapore-based contract manufacturer under a single global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO).

Meiban has acquired the remaining equity in Planet Innovation, increasing its shareholding to 100%. The deal follows an initial investment of approximately 20 per cent in the company in 2025, when the two businesses established a strategic alliance.

According to Planet Innovation, the acquisition combines its expertise in medical technology product design, engineering, prototyping and early-stage manufacturing with Meiban’s high-volume precision manufacturing capabilities.

Planet Innovation employs more than 300 professionals, with teams in Melbourne, Australia, and Irvine, United States. Meiban operates seven manufacturing sites and provides capabilities including plastic injection moulding, printed circuit board assembly and full product assembly.

The combined business aims to provide medtech companies with support across the product lifecycle, from initial concept and development through to commercial-scale manufacturing.

Planet Innovation said its operations would continue under its existing brand and leadership, with its teams maintaining their current product development and early-stage manufacturing services. Meiban clients will also continue to access its high-volume manufacturing facilities in Singapore and Malaysia.

Planet Innovation co-founder and CEO Stuart Elliott said the acquisition builds on an existing partnership and gives clients access to product development and manufacturing capabilities through one organisation.

“Our clients now have something genuinely rare: a single partner with elite capability at every stage of the product journey, and the flexibility to manufacture where it makes the most strategic and commercial sense,” Elliott said.

Meiban CEO Cheok Kai Hock said the acquisition reflects the company’s long-term commitment to the medical technology sector.

“PI’s exceptional innovation capability and Meiban’s precision manufacturing expertise. Both companies share a clear purpose: to improve lives through the products we help our clients bring to market,” he said.

The companies said the combined capabilities would provide medtech clients with manufacturing options across Asia, Australia and the United States.

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First Graphene Limited has secured approximately A$45,000 in combined orders for its graphene materials, including a repeat purchase for US defence applications and its first commercial orders for newly developed graphene oxide.

In an ASX announcement, the company said the orders comprise an approximately A$35,000 repeat purchase from an established US customer supplying electrically conductive inks for defence applications, alongside two new orders worth approximately A$10,000 for graphene oxide.

The repeat order builds on a relationship spanning several years, during which the US customer has progressed from smaller initial purchases to more significant orders. The customer has also indicated it anticipates increasing demand over the foreseeable future, according to First Graphene.

Graphene is incorporated into electrically conductive inks used to print circuits, sensors and other electronic components onto flexible and rigid surfaces. The customer’s identity and specific end-use application remain confidential at its request.

First Graphene said the order adds to its growing presence in the US defence market, supported by its acquisition of assets from US-based MITO Material Solutions, a North American distribution agreement with SuperGrafeno Inc. and a dedicated US business development function.

The company is also pursuing opportunities in defence composites through a development and commercialisation agreement with Aeropreg, which is advancing a PureGRAPH-enhanced carbon fibre prepreg towards commercialisation for potential aerospace and defence applications.

Separately, the company has received its first two orders for its newly developed graphene oxide product. One order, from an international customer, is for thermal conductivity sheets used in consumer electronics, while an Australian customer has ordered the material for building and construction applications.

According to First Graphene, the product is manufactured through an adaptation of its established electrochemical exfoliation process. By adjusting its existing graphene manufacturing method, the company has developed a production route it describes as cost-competitive while delivering consistent material quality.

The company said the new product broadens its materials offering and provides an additional option for customers in existing and new markets, including electronics and construction.

First Graphene Managing Director and CEO Michael Bell said the repeat US defence order represented progress in developing an established revenue stream.

“US defence is already a revenue-generating market for First Graphene, and this order marks an important step in growing that business,” Bell said.

He said the first graphene oxide orders were also a commercial milestone, providing initial market entry points in consumer electronics and construction materials.

“By adapting our established electrochemical process, we can produce consistent-quality graphene oxide at commercially competitive costs,” Bell said.

The company said the combined orders demonstrate progress in growing existing customer revenue and introducing new products into commercial applications.

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Queensland’s beverage manufacturers will see changes to container recycling costs from February 2027, with a new pricing framework expected to reduce contributions for 86 per cent of manufacturers, according to Container Exchange (COEX).

The organisation, which operates Queensland’s Containers for Change scheme, will become the first container refund scheme in Australia to introduce an eco-modulation pricing framework, setting manufacturer contributions according to the costs of recovering and recycling different packaging materials.

Under the new model, manufacturers using materials that are easier to recover and recycle, such as glass, will pay less, while those using harder-to-recycle materials, including liquid paperboard (LPB) popper boxes, will face higher costs.

In a news release, COEX said the changes would address differences in recycling costs and recovery rates between packaging materials, which were previously charged at the same rate under the existing framework.

LPB packaging consists of multiple layers of paper, plastic and aluminium, making it more complex and costly to recycle. Glass, by comparison, is a single-material product with an established market for recycled content.

COEX CEO Trevor Evans said the framework followed consultation with beverage manufacturers and industry bodies, which called for a fairer pricing approach.

“We asked and we heard loud and clear that the industry wanted to move to a fairer system that adopts the principles of eco-modulation pricing,” Evans said.

“We are now actioning this feedback with a new framework which recognises that not all containers are created equal.”

Evans said the revised approach would be revenue-neutral for COEX while providing manufacturers with a price signal about the materials they select for packaging.

“It also sends a price signal to the industry about the material they choose to package their products and the circular outcomes of that choice,” he said.

COEX said Queensland would become the lowest-priced container refund scheme in Australia for both aluminium and glass under the revised framework.

The changes are also expected to affect glass wine and spirits manufacturers, which joined Queensland’s container refund scheme in November 2023.

Queensland Distillers Association President Vanessa Chapman welcomed the consultation process and the move towards pricing that reflects differences in material recovery and recycling costs.

“As these changes are implemented, we look forward to continuing to engage with COEX to ensure the practical impacts and perspectives of Queensland distillers are represented,” Chapman said.

Sirromet Chief Executive Officer Risko Isic said the winery supported initiatives that encourage recycling and reduce waste.

“Our participation in the Containers for Change scheme is one way we support responsible recycling, reduce waste and contribute to positive environmental outcomes,” Isic said.

The revised pricing framework will take effect in February 2027. COEX said more than 3,000 containers are returned and recycled every minute through Queensland’s Containers for Change scheme.

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Queensland manufacturers seeking to invest in new equipment and technology can apply for matched funding of up to $1.5 million under the second round of the Queensland Government’s Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grants Program (TQMGP).

The program is designed to support eligible manufacturing businesses in adopting new equipment and systems to improve productivity, manufacturing capability and competitiveness.

According to the Queensland Government, Round 2 has $12.5 million in grant funding available, with applications open until 25 November 2026.

The funding forms part of a broader $79.1 million commitment over three years, which will be distributed through six competitive grant rounds. New rounds are scheduled to open approximately every six months.

The program is administered by the Queensland Government’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development.

Under Round 2, eligible businesses can apply for matched grants of up to $1.5 million to support investments in manufacturing technology and equipment.

The Queensland Government said the program aims to encourage innovation, advanced technology adoption and job creation while strengthening the state’s manufacturing sector.

Applications close at 1pm on 25 November 2026, and the government has advised that late applications will not be accepted.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a grant agreement with the Queensland Government. The agreement may include security arrangements, with businesses advised to confirm with their financier or bank that they can meet these requirements before submitting an application.

Further information, including eligibility requirements and assessment criteria, is available through the Queensland Government’s Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grants Program webpage.

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Opal has officially opened a $70 million cartons manufacturing facility in Moorebank, south-west Sydney, introducing advanced printing technology and expanding its local packaging production capabilities.

The 27,233-square-metre facility is designed to manufacture food-grade cardboard carton packaging, supporting demand for locally produced, high-quality and recyclable packaging.

The site houses Australia’s only Heidelberg Boardmaster, a high-speed inline flexographic printing system designed for folding carton production. The technology can operate at speeds of up to 600 metres per minute and incorporates automation and AI-powered systems to improve production efficiency, reduce material waste and provide greater flexibility.

Opal said the facility’s changeover technology could reduce material waste to less than 10 metres of board, representing a reduction of up to 90 per cent. The site is also certified for food-safe production and uses water-based inks and energy-efficient drying systems with heat recovery.

Brad Hinds, Chief Executive Packaging at Opal, said the investment reflected the company’s commitment to strengthening local manufacturing and meeting the changing needs of Australian businesses.

“This is an important investment in the future of Australian manufacturing. We’re bringing world-leading technology into our operations, giving us greater capacity to produce high-quality carton packaging locally while improving efficiency and waste,” Hinds said.

“For our customers, it means greater flexibility, reliable supply and the ability to develop new packaging solutions as their needs evolve.”

The facility is also expected to improve freight efficiency through access to rail infrastructure connecting the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct with Port Botany. Opal expects to receive approximately 1,557 twenty-foot containers of board by rail in 2027, reducing reliance on road freight.

The investment complements Opal’s Centre of Excellence at Orchard Hills, NSW, which produces recyclable packaging solutions, including a punnet featuring a wood-based cellulose window.

According to Opal, the Moorebank site uses less electricity than its predecessor facility and does not rely on natural gas.

The company said the investment would strengthen its packaging capabilities across innovation, design, manufacturing and recycling, while supporting local employment and reducing customers’ reliance on imported packaging.

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Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has secured up to $15 million in Western Australian Government funding to support the development of a proposed vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility, aimed at supplying future utility-scale energy storage projects.

The company has executed a funding agreement under the Government’s Investment Attraction Fund (IAF) New Energies Industries Funding Stream Round 2. 

The grant will contribute towards the design, construction and commissioning of the facility, which will use AVL’s independently developed V-NOMAD electrolyte production technology.

Under the agreement, the Western Australian Government will fund up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs, capped at $15 million, with AVL responsible for the remaining funding. Payments will be made subject to the agreement’s terms and conditions, including the achievement of applicable project milestones.

The proposed facility is designed as a high-capacity, relocatable manufacturing solution intended to support vanadium flow battery (VFB) projects at gigawatt-hour scale. It would also expand AVL’s existing electrolyte manufacturing capability.

AVL developed its V-NOMAD platform as a relocatable vanadium electrolyte production solution that can be co-located with VFB energy storage systems, with the aim of reducing electrolyte costs.

The facility is intended to support future vanadium flow battery deployments, including long-duration energy storage projects pursued by AVL’s wholly owned subsidiary, VSUN Energy.

AVL chief executive officer Graham Arvidson said the grant recognised the company’s progress in developing vanadium electrolyte manufacturing capability in Western Australia.

“The grant will support the next stage of development of our V-NOMAD platform and our broader strategy of integrating Western Australian vanadium production, electrolyte manufacturing and utility-scale vanadium flow battery deployment,” Arvidson said.

He added that the strategy included opportunities being pursued through the company’s downstream business, VSUN Energy.

“We thank the Western Australian Government for its continued support for the development of domestic vanadium supply chains,” he said.

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