Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s briefcase, a French launch deal signed, expanded drilling project gets government approval, and Prohibition Liquor Co. finds a new home in a historic distillery.
Launch provider signs French deal
Uranium project gets government approval
Company opens Edwardstown facility
University partners for AI research
Detmold recognised for employment
AML3D sign navy deal
InSync – business events
Santos take on more debt
Prohibition take up historic distillery
Dornford Group recognised
Government library help titanium discovery
Adelaide launch provider signs international deal
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), headquartered in Adelaide, has signed a multi-year multi-launch campaign contract with French rocket company Sirius Space Services, to launch from ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre in the Nothern Territory.
Under the agreement, Sirius will take up residency at the spaceport from 2025, with ELA providing a suite of launch and mission support services and facilities at its commercial spaceport.
ELA CEO Michael Jones said Sirius would be the port’s second resident launcher.
“They will leverage ELA’s advanced commercial spaceport concept, taking advantage of our comprehensive suite of launch solutions, innovative commercial offering and the best customer service and support to increase efficiency, safety, mission assuredness and commercial benefit to Sirius,” he said.
– Isabella Kelly
SA uranium project gets government approval
Australian Rare Earths has received state government approval to expand its Overland Uranium Project in the South Australian outback.
The company is now approved for a total combined area of 733 square kilometres.
Adelaide-based Australian Rare Earths has also awarded a works contract to Wallis Drilling and secured a drill rig which will be mobilised to the site northeast of Adelaide in the Murray Basin.
The first phase of the drilling program will run from mid-October to December 2024.
“The additional EPER approval, ahead of schedule, is a most timely and welcome step forward in our exploration efforts at overland, allowing us to access more of our high-priority targets during our inaugural drill program,” Australian Rare Earths CEO and managing director Travis Beinke said.
“Securing rig access with experienced drilling contractor, Wallis Drilling, will enable us to commence drilling in mid-October.”
– David Simmons
Mike Davison, Simon Crane, Tony Pasin, and Phil Degenhardt at the facility opening. Photo: supplied
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Lovells opens Edwardstown facility
Lovells Automotive Systems has opened a research and development facility in Edwarstown in a $1 million investment which will see 20 staff employed.
The new facility will focus on the development of suspension and towing products across automotive, retail, mining, industrial and specialist engineering.
“Lovells new Edwardstown facility becomes a key asset in our ability to design, test and manufacture right here in Australia for our global customer base,” said Lovells managing director Simon Crane.
Lovells is the country’s largest manufacturer of suspension components, original equipment parts, aftermarket coil and leaf springs.
– Isabella Kelly
University of Adelaide announces partnership for AI research
The University of Adelaide has commenced a five-year partnership with the Commonwealth Bank and the CommBank Centre for Foundational AI, to advance research at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning into Australia’s AI capabilities.
The partnership will aim to recruit AI researchers to the centre, publish research contributing to the global body of AI knowledge, facilitate the transfer of knowledge, and develop Australia’s AI capabilities.
The CommBank Centre for Foundational AI will be at Lot Fourteen.
“AI is already in our everyday lives, but the fundamental principles of AI are still shrouded in mystery. This lack of understanding will continue to hinder Australia’s development, voice, and impact in the AI space unless we invest in innovative, research-intensive initiatives,” said the institute’s director Simon Lucey.
– Isabella Kelly
The Detmold Group have been recognised in the same category for the seventh time. Photo: supplied
Detmold receives employment recognition
The Detmold Group has been named an Employer of Choice at the Australian Business Awards, recognising its development of workplaces with policies and practices that “maximise the full potential of their workforce”.
This is the seventh time the group has been given the recognition, with people and culture general manager Kathleen Johnson saying it highlighted a “commitment to our people, both locally and internationally”.
“By prioritising the safety and well-being of our team members and providing opportunities for both personal and professional development, we cultivate an environment where everyone can thrive,” she said.
– Isabella Kelly
AML3D announces Navy supply agreement
AML3D has entered a Manufacturing License Agreement with Blue Forge Alliance, which will see the company’s manufacturing opportunities for US Navy supply expanded.
BFA is a nonprofit in the United States, which under the agreement may provide technical assistance and data to AML3D on components used in US Navy submarines.
The agreement will see AML3D’s industrial ARCEMY Wire-arc Additive Manufacturing metal 3D printing systems used to manufacture and test a range of submarine parts.
– Isabella Kelly
LANGTONS Classified, a wine-tasting experience showcasing wines from the latest LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine, at the National Wine Centre on October 1.
Pink Yellow Blue Disco, a Flinders Foundation event raising funds for cancer research and care, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on October 12.
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Tchin Tchin Networking Evening, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with Smart Home Vision Reality as part of the Sustainability Forum, at Lochend Community Hall on October 17.
Australia’s Space Future Conference, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with REDARC Defence & Space and Neumann Space, at REDARC Electronics on October 29.
Trump vs Harris, an AmCham panel event on predictions for the US election, with Christopher Pyne, Adelaide Football Club chairman John Olsen and more, at the Playford Hotel on October 31.
Newday Leadership Summit, a conference with a variety of speakers and other activities with AFL Max, at AFL Max on October 31.
Design Futures, a forum event with local, interstate, and international architects sharing their experiences, with Dan Hill of Melbourne School of Design and Deputy Premier Susan Close, at Adelaide Town Hall on November 6.
Wake up to Change, an Adelaide White Ribbon event with criminologist and former senior police officer Vincent Hurley on the prevention of violence against women and children, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on November 7.
Santos takes on more debt
Santos has refinanced its 2025 maturing syndicated bank loan facility, seeing an increase from $361 million to $1.2 billion, with a fully revolving loan to mature in 2030, following the previous maturity of 2025.
Santos, which was recently named South Australia’s top company in the 2024 InDaily South Australian Business Index, said the loan had a floating interest rate referencing its credit rating, at 1.55 per cent annually.
CEO Kevin Gallagher said the increase was “an excellent result for Santos and continues to demonstrate strong support from our bank lenders”.
– Isabella Kelly
Photo: Supplied.
Prohibition Liquor Co sets up in historic distillery
Seppeltsfield Estate’s 147-year-old distillery now houses one of South Australia’s pre-eminent gin makers.
Prohibition Liquor Co has been bottling and distributing from Seppletsfield’s distillery since August, but the building of a tasting room has since commenced with a plan to open in early 2025.
The distillery, originally built by the Seppelt family and officially opened back in 1877, is situated in the Barossa Valley.
Prohibition Liquor Co co-founder and CEO Adam Carpenter said it was “incredibly exciting to re-ignite such a historic building in the iconic Seppeltsfield Estate, to once again be a hive of spirits activity, as it was back in the 1800s”.
“We can’t wait to bring our offering to the beautiful Barossa Valley. The opportunity to join the village of iconic brands at Seppeltsfield Estate is hugely exciting,” he said.
To celebrate, Prohibition is launching a pop-up gin bar on the October long weekend.
– David Simmons
Dornford Building Group recognised nationally
Dornford Building Group was awarded Small Residential Building Business of the Year at the Master Builders Australia’s 2024 National Business Excellence Awards.
Dornford director Jake Dornford said the award was “a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team”.
“We are so grateful for the support of our clients and partners,” he said.
– Isabella Kelly
State drill core library plays role in titanium discovery
A major discovery of titanium near Coober Pedy was made possible thanks to South Australia’s Drill Core Reference Library, said Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis.
Drilling samples from a 1991 drilling campaign kept at the Core Library had geological logs describing bands of dark minerals present, but no examination for titanium was undertaken at the time as the mineral was of no “major significance” in the 90s.
Petratherm – the firm behind the titanium discovery – examined the logs and assayed the drill holes which confirmed the presence of titanium ore minerals.
Koutsantonis said the drill core information reinforced “the importance of pre-competitive geoscience data for new discoveries”.
“I’m incredibly proud of the Survey’s work and the world-leading repository of information it has built,” he said.
– David Simmons
