Manufacturing

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.

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.