Latest Automation News

Li-S Energy has narrowed its FY26 loss and reached several commercialisation milestones, including a 2C Power Cell, international shipping approvals and its first lithium foil sale. But the ASX battery developer still needs customer offtake and fresh funding before its proposed 1 GWh manufacturing expansion can become reality.

Heartland Group Holdings (NZX: HGH, ASX: HGH) more than doubled FY2026 net profit as margins widened, asset quality improved and its proposed TSB merger moved towards a shareholder vote. The bank also reported a 16% fall in restated emissions, though much of its climate-risk work remains incomplete or estimate-driven.

Hallenstein Glasson delivered a sharp lift in FY2026 profit as sales, margins and Australian trading strengthened. The NZX-listed retailer also raised its full-year dividend to 69 cents per share, while warning that early FY2027 sales growth is unlikely to persist at the same pace.

Global X ROBO Global Robotics and Automation ETF delivered a sharply higher annual profit, powered by fair-value gains across its robotics portfolio. But the fund disclosed that its net asset value has since fallen by more than 10%, leaving investors with a strong reported year and a materially weaker latest position.

AUCyber has added approximately $1.34 million in annual recurring revenue from two Australian university contracts, including a new 12-month deal with the University of New England worth more than $600,000 a year. The cybersecurity provider is also bidding for a separate university engagement valued at about $5.5 million, although that opportunity remains uncontracted.

Rubicon Water’s technology has been selected as part of a joint venture bid for a major Moroccan irrigation upgrade covering 69,600 hectares. The opportunity could become its largest EMEA contract, but formal execution remains subject to a 15-day appeal period and subsequent commissioning.

EBR Systems has completed the FDA’s pre-approval inspection of its new Santa Clara manufacturing facility, receiving two Form 483 observations. The company says it expects to correct them in the fourth quarter and still anticipates approval by year-end, although the FDA has not yet made its final determination.

Felix Group Holdings has secured A$5.54 million in institutional funding and launched a further A$1 million shareholder purchase plan as it pivots towards an open procurement platform. The ASX-listed software company is also guiding to at least 15% revenue growth in FY27.

Nexsen has proposed a 50:50 joint venture with FlashDx Shenzhen to develop and commercialise an enhanced molecular Group B Streptococcus test, using an existing CE-marked platform as its starting point. The proposed venture could shorten Nexsen’s path into hospital and intrapartum testing across Asia-Pacific, but the term sheet remains non-binding and regulatory work is still ahead.

PPK Group has converted the sale of its Craig International Ballistics stake into a substantially stronger balance sheet, reporting a $19.2 million FY2026 profit and $27.7 million in cash. The challenge now is turning that one-off windfall into a durable operating business without overpaying or losing patience.

Volt Group delivered a steep lift in HY26 revenue, adjusted EBITDA, profit and operating cash flow, with the 4D Delta acquisition providing the largest contribution. The mining technology company also expanded its Westgold solar-lighting fleet and advanced Wescone’s crusher technology.

Vection Technologies has signed reciprocal five-year reseller agreements with Xerox, opening a potential Western European channel for its conversational AI, digital human, kiosk and XR technologies. The opportunity is strategically notable, but the agreements contain no minimum volumes, pricing or committed revenue.