Manufacturing

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.

Based in the Wheatbelt town of Cunderdin, agricultural machinery manufacturer Trufab Global has been nominated as Australia’s only finalist in the 2018 Swedish Steel Prize.

John Rothwell remembers some of the most significant deals made in the early days of shipbuilder Austal, in the latest instalment in our series to celebrate Business News' 25th anniversary.

A local business offering the potential to reduce maintenance downtime in the mining and related industries has secured a national distributor for its fast-release nut design.

The federal government has signed a $1.2 billion contract extension with a group of defence contractors for maintenance work on eight Anzac-class frigates for the next five years, with BAE Systems and CIMIC's UGL among the major beneficiaries.

Melbourne-based explosives manufacturer Orica has secured supply contracts in the Pilbara with BHP Billiton and Roy Hill, but expects operational issues and write-downs to cut its first-half earnings by nearly $400 million.

Shipbuilder Austal reported a big jump in profit for the first half of the financial year, while it is still unsure of what its exact role will be in the upcoming $3 billion offshore patrol vessel build program.

Limestone Building Blocks Company has been handed a $65,000 fine after a worker at its Nowergup manufacturing plant was seriously injured when he became trapped in a block-making machine last year.

Henderson-based contractor Civmec lifted profit to $S10.4 million ($A10 million) for the first half of the financial year, up 59 per cent, on the back of a big surge in revenue.

Balcatta-based Orbital Corporation recorded an unaudited $1.5 million after-tax loss for the first half of the financial year, but expects a profit in its full-year result, as it shifts focus to building engine parts for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Perth-based bike business Steadyrack has installed more than 600 bike racks at Woodside’s new Capital Square office building as cycling in the city grows in popularity.

The state’s automotive industry got off to a positive start in 2018 with a rise in new vehicle sales for January, compared to last year, on the back of increased SUV and light commercial vehicle sales.

Malaga company Galvin Engineering has developed Australia's first lead-free drinking tap as the state government deals with new revelations of lead contamination in taps at a number of Western Australian schools.

Henderson-based Austal has been awarded a $20 million contract, through a joint venture with a Chinese shipbuilding company, for the design and build of four high-speed ferries.

3D printing company Aurora Labs has strengthened its board, announcing the appointments of non-executive chairman Paul Kristensen and director Mel Ashton effective today.

Western Australia’s automotive industry has finished the year down 2.5per cent in new vehicle sales relative to last year, after a drop in sales for December ended a two-month run of strong growth.

Western Australian indigenous business Carey Training has been awarded a $2.5 million training contract with the Malaysian Institute of Technology Academy based in Kuala Lumpur for the next three years.

Korean car maker Kia Motors will increase its offering at DVG Automotive Group dealerships in Midland and Morley after recent showroom upgrades worth more than $1 million.

Perth-based shipbuilder Austal has signed a memorandum of understanding with JR Kyushu Jet Ferry to develop a new high-speed trimaran passenger ferry for the company’s Japan-to-South Korea route.

Western Australia's automotive industry has registered a second straight month of strong growth in new vehicle sales relative to 2016, with solid increases in purchases of light and heavy commercial vehicles in November.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has highlighted mining industry concerns regarding grinding media company Moly-Cop’s proposed acquisition of competitor Donhad in its statement of issues.

Perth companies Austal and Civmec are looking forward to working on the construction of 10 navy vessels at Henderson but the amount and type of work they will undertake is unclear after the federal government selected Germany's Luerssen as its preferred designer and builder.

Quintis has revealed that a group of shareholders is taking legal action against the embattled sandalwood producer in relation to a supply contract with pharmaceuticals company Galderma.

Perth-based shipbuilder Austal has denied it sent an update to shareholders signalling the potential closure of its Henderson shipyard, with chief executive David Singleton telling Business News the company was strongly positioned to remain in Western Australia.

Engineering and construction contractor Civmec, which plans to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, has reported a quarterly net profit of $S3.7 million ($A3.5 million) and modest growth in its order book.

Shares in Aurora Labs closed nearly 20 per cent higher today after the company signed a binding term sheet with WorleyParsons to use its metal 3D printing technology across a range of industries.

Burrup Fertilisers' creditors meeting tomorrow will be without its star attraction, after Pankaj and Radhika Oswal said they would not return, and added that Perth may not be part of their future plans.

Norwegian fertiliser giant Yara has lifted the veil on its concerns about the financial dealings of Burrup Holdings, controlled by Indian business couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal, in a hearing of the Federal Court in Perth.

The winner of last year’s national Telstra small business of the year award, local footwear developer and manufacturer Footwear Industries, believes that success has had a valuable effect on its business.

WA know-how has produced the goods again.From the construction of the showpiece for the biggest sporting event in the world to providing embroidery on souvenir towels, WA firms have helped Olympic organisers stage the world’s biggest sporting event in S