Manufacturing

Perth investor Andrew Hopkins’ planned $508 million buyout of national panel beating business AMA Group has been cancelled after the group failed to get an expected ruling from the Australian Taxation Office.

Perth-based Fleetwood Corporation has sold its struggling caravan manufacturing business, with the company forecasting an overall loss of up to $15 million on the deal.

A former Austal executive has been restrained from working for competitor Civmec on the $3.6 billion offshore patrol vessels program, after an interim injunction was handed down in the Supreme Court last week.

Marine engineering firm Veem is hopeful its gyrostabiliser technology will provide the next major step in its future growth plans.

Perth-based startup Rhinohide has spent the past three years growing its presence in Australia among 4X4 enthusiasts and is now preparing to expand into the US.

A Perth-based business that uses augmented reality technology to help customers visualise designs for factories, offices or other products is investing up to $6 million in research after winning a federal grant.

Melbourne-based fertiliser and explosives manufacturers Incitec Pivot and Orica have continued their battle for iron ore contracts in the Pilbara, with Incitec winning a five-year supply deal with Fortescue Metals Group.

Three industry associations in WA are seeking to help local businesses win defence work.

German shipbuilder Lürssen has unveiled plans to establish a joint venture with local contractor Civmec to build 10 offshore patrol vessels at Henderson, two weeks after it failed to strike a deal with experienced shipbuilder Austal.

Moves to encourage downstream lithium processing in Western Australia continued today, with the state government announcing a taskforce to develop a strategy for the sector.

Specialist glass company ClearVue Technologies will commence trading on the ASX tomorrow after raising $5 million via an initial public offering.

Interest is growing in Kwinana as a possible battery manufacturing hub, with Wesfarmers mooted to be considering a move into the sector and representatives from US electric car manufacturer Tesla in Perth to meet with Premier Mark McGowan today.

The Henderson contractor that outplayed local shipbuilder Austal for a share of work on the navy’s new offshore patrol vessels has doubled profit over the past nine months, but it remains unclear how much work it will gain from the $3.5 billion project.

Struggling RV and accommodation business Fleetwood Corporation has made a pre-emptive move to avoid a board spill, after a major shareholder took steps to call a general meeting.

Austal has announced a $US30 million ($40 million) expansion of its commercial shipbuilding operations across three sites, including a $6 million upgrade at Henderson, days after the company was left out of the contract to build Australia’s new offshore patrol vessels.

The German company contracted to build Australia's new offshore patrol vessels has concluded negotiations with its build partners, but Henderson-based Austal will not be participating, with Civmec being the big local winner.

Alternative construction materials are attracting more interest in WA.

Shares in Perth-based Fleetwood Corporation fell nearly 20 per cent today after the RV and accommodation company flagged subdued market conditions for its caravan manufacturing business.

From small operator to market leader, local business Kingman Visual’s signage portfolio includes high-profile work at Perth Airport and Optus Stadium.

Local shipbuilder Austal has expanded its footprint in the US with the acquisition of technology company ElectraWatch in a cash deal worth $US6.7 million ($9 million).

Long-running plans by Vikas Rambal’s Perdaman Industries to build a multi-billion dollar urea manufacturing plant in Western Australia have received a fillip, with his group signing a gas supply agreement with Woodside Petroleum.

The state government has appointed Civmec defence general manager Mike Deeks as its new London-based agent general for Western Australia.

Henderson-based Austal has secured a $29.7 million contract to build two additional Pacific patrol boats on top of an existing $305 million federal government program, days after German shipbuilder Lurssen awarded Civmec a key contract for the Royal Australian Navy offshore patrol vessels.

Engineering giant CIMIC has reaffirmed its full-year profit guidance after lifting first-quarter profit 7 per cent to $172 million.

German shipbuilder Lürssen has awarded Civmec a key contract for the Royal Australian Navy offshore patrol vessels, which are being built as part of a $3.6 billion federal government program.

Perth-based Andrew Hopkins has led a $508 million buyout of national panel beating business AMA Group, with the deal backed by private equity giant Blackstone.

Dowsing Concrete and Axiis Contracting will split an $18 million contract for concrete work associated with the Public Transport Authority’s bus stop upgrade program over the next five years.

At a time when debate about a potential outer harbour project south of Perth is building momentum, a look at the history of development in Kwinana’s industrial zone provides an illustration of the impact of government intervention in the state’s economy, for better or worse.

Perth-based kitchen appliances firm Thermomix has been ordered to pay $4.6 million in penalties after the Federal Court of Australia found that the company misled customers when its products were found to be dangerously faulty.

Former defence minister and senator for Western Australia David Johnston has been appointed Australia’s first defence export advocate, after the federal government committed to spend an additional $20 million every year to support the sector.

The US arm of Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has secured a $US10.2 million ($13 million) for engineering and design work with the US defence department.

New vehicle sales in Western Australia registered a slight increase in March compared with the same month last year, while sales for the 12 months to March were up 5.3 per cent on the prior year, according to the latest data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.