Tag: Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub

Northgate Tech Hub Launches Accelerator and Banana Automation Project

Photo Credit: Future Food Sytems/ Facebook

Northgate is now at the centre of a push to transform Australian manufacturing, having launched a new accelerator program and a robotics project to automate banana harvesting.

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New Program for Tech Founders

banana
Photo Credit: ARM Hub

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub) held an Industry Day in Northgate to mark five years since its establishment. The event brought together industry leaders and researchers to discuss the future of advanced manufacturing. A key announcement was the launch of Exit 2030, a program designed to help deep tech and advanced manufacturing founders plan their business exit strategies.

The ARM Hub CEO, Professor Cori Stewart, explained that selling a deep tech company is more complex than a typical business. Investors look at intellectual property, how easily the company can grow, its market position, and its long-term value. The Exit 2030 program will provide a group of 14 founders with advice and support to navigate these challenges. The program is designed for those planning to sell or merge their businesses within three to five years.

Automating Banana Harvesting

banana
Photo Credit: ARM Hub

Another significant project announced at the Northgate event is the Banana Dehanding Project. This project aims to automate the labour-intensive process of separating bananas from their bunches. The Australian Banana Growers Council (ABGC) identified this area where Industry 4.0 technology could make a significant difference. Professor Stewart expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating it will help transform Australia’s horticulture industry.

The project is a collaboration between the ABGC, Hort Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Future Food Systems CRC, and BNL Industrial Solutions. ARM Hub experts, including Dr Chris Lehnert, Designer Anthony Franze, and Robotics Engineer Troy Cordie, have been working with banana farmers in North Queensland to understand the production process and identify opportunities for automation.

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Dr Lehnert emphasised the importance of addressing the challenges faced by farmers to support the National Manufacturing Priorities for Food and Beverages. The project aims to develop a new robotic tool for banana farmers, particularly in Tully.

Published Date 01-April-2025

An Australian First! Northgate’s Valiant Space Sends Components Into Orbit

Valiant Space, a Northgate start-up company, is set to send Australia’s first in-space chemical thrusters for satellites aboard Elon Musk’s Space X. 

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The space components, designed by three young Queenslanders — Andrew Uscinski, Michael Douw and Benjamin Dodd — are meant to help manoeuvre small satellites into orbit using non-toxic propellants. Their invention can help satellites remain in “optimal orbit” and last longer in space, whilst coming online at a faster rate to be monitored on the ground.

The trio from Valiant Space has identified a market gap for space propulsion options that are not carcinogenic, easy to handle, and cost-effective to develop with the support of the  Queensland Government’s Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub in Northgate.

“Our thruster runs on nitrous oxide and propane – like what you would use in a barbecue, but slightly more pure – which gives a comparable performance to the toxic options, but without the need for high-cost handling infrastructure,” Mr Uscinski said.

“Our solutions will save money at every step of the mission lifecycle, by leveraging a simplified design, rapid manufacturing methods and low-cost propellants.”

Valiant Space has been a tenant of the ARM Hub since November 2020 and has taken advantage of the staff support, flexibility of leasing, and the large warehouse space. The company also secured a $750,000 grant from the Australian Government’s Moon to Mars Initiative to develop its prototype.  

The trip with SpaceX is the first step of the validation process that the Australian-made components can withstand the violent conditions of its journey into space. A full thruster launch will follow in mid-2023. 

“The Valiant Space team is just one business based here at the hub in Northgate and I’m looking forward to seeing the fantastic advancements and products to come from this Palaszczuk Government initiative,” Nudgee MP Leanne Linard said.

“We know our Queensland manufacturers are some of the best in the world and now – perhaps – some of the best in space!”

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“Our Government provides support in many ways and in this instance, the Queensland Government-funded ARM Hub, at Northgate, helped these young entrepreneurs out by providing a workspace to start this fantastic business, as well as assistance in applying for the critical grants that have made this SpaceX opportunity a reality,” Minster for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher said.

“We manufacture things for Queensland, we manufacture things for Australia and now we’re manufacturing things for outer space.”