Month: August 2026

Every manufacturer has a story to tell, but real influence comes when hundreds of businesses tell that story together. All advanced manufacturing and supplier company leaders are called on to participate in the National Advanced Manufacturing Census, and to build the evidence needed to advocate for the policies, skills and investment that our advanced manufacturing industry needs to thrive. Governments and decision-makers rely on data when setting priorities. The greater the participation, the more complete the picture, and the stronger our industry's influence can be. If you're part of advanced manufacturing, your business counts. Participation shapes decisions. If we don't count ourselves, we’re counting ourselves out of the nationally-important conversation. Take part and help shape what comes next. This Census is part of AMTIL’s new and dedicated Policy & Government Affairs Branch that is strengthening the voice…

**This story originally appeared in the July 2026 edition of AMT Magazine** The most successful uses of AI are unlikely to come from technology alone. They will depend on whether manufacturers have the right data, skills, governance, infrastructure and business discipline to apply AI where it solves real operational problems.   The opportunity is significant. The CSIRO’s Artificial Intelligence Roadmap estimates that digital technologies, including AI, could increase productivity by up to 40% and contribute $315 billion to Australia’s GDP by 2030. The Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources also identifies AI as a critical technology with potential to transform existing industries and build new ones.   For manufacturing, however, the value will not come from AI as a standalone tool. It will come from combining AI with existing industrial strengths:…

**This story originally appeared in the July 2026 edition of AMT Magazine** Australia’s manufacturing sector entered 2026 with signs of renewed momentum, but global disruption and rising operating costs continue to test the industry's resilience. The latest Manufacturing Signals Report from CommBank shows that manufacturing output returned to growth in late 2025 after a difficult period of contraction. However, many businesses are still managing margin pressure driven by higher freight, fuel and input costs, ongoing supply chain disruption and persistent labour shortages. For manufacturers, the current environment is creating a more complex balancing act between maintaining day-to-day operational performance and positioning themselves for future competitiveness. “There are signs of recovery in manufacturing, but it’s far from a straightforward external environment. Businesses are having to manage persistent cost and supply pressures, while also positioning themselves for long-term competitiveness,” Belinda Harris (General Manager Commercial Banking QLD, Commonwealth Bank of Australia). Navigating cost and supply chain pressures Geopolitical tensions and shipping disruptions across key global trade routes have increased pressure on supply chains and inventory management, with CommBank data pointing to 10-to-14-day shipping delays for the sector, which extends lead times and…

**This story originally appeared in the July 2026 edition of AMT Magazine** For Australian manufacturing technology suppliers, mining is not only a customer market. It is a demanding test bed for engineering capability. The sector requires heavy fabrication, precision machining, hydraulics, wear components, automation, robotics, materials handling systems, sensing, control systems, safety technology and increasingly sophisticated digital tools. In many cases, mining has helped Australian manufacturers become world-class by forcing them to solve difficult problems in harsh environments. The scale of the opportunity remains substantial. The Department of Industry’s December 2025 Resources and Energy Quarterly forecast Australia’s resources and energy export earnings at $383 billion in 2025–26 and $374 billion in 2026–27. Export volumes are expected to remain robust and rise close to record levels in 2027, even as some commodity prices soften. Iron ore is expected to remain Australia’s largest resources earner, accounting for about one-quarter…

AMTIL welcomes the Hon. Melissa Horne as Victoria’s new Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Jobs, and Minister for Ports and Freight; and congratulates the Hon. Ben Carroll MP on his election as the new Premier of Victoria. New to advanced manufacturing, Minister Horne has previously worked in senior levels of government and the corporate sector, particularly in the transport sector. AMTIL looks forward to working together to advance our state’s advanced manufacturing priorities. The Hon. Colin Brooks, previous Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, has been appointed as Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations. Mr Brooks and Mr Carroll are well-known to AMTIL and its members, including having previously opened Australian Manufacturing Week and attended Victorian Manufacturing Galas. With understanding of our sector’s opportunities and barriers being held within three core and influential positions, AMTIL looks forward to engaging with Government and our sector being reflected in future policies introduced. New federal defence report released The 2026 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy has been released, setting the strategic agenda for Australia’s defence innovation priorities while strengthening Australia’s sovereign industrial base and national…

**This story originally appeared in the July 2026 edition of AMT Magazine** Five years after the closure of the Lane Cove Test Station, Australia is beginning to grasp the scale of what was lost. It marked the erosion of a national capability that underpins electrical safety, system reliability, innovation and industrial competitiveness across the entire electricity system. This reality was laid bare at a recent Australian Industry Group forum examining the impacts of Lane Cove’s closure. Industry experts from standards development, manufacturing, system engineering and forensic investigation delivered a consistent message: Australia’s rapid electrification is now running ahead of our ability to independently test and validate the equipment it relies on. Electrification is transforming every layer of the economy. Buildings are shifting away from gas. Electric vehicle charging is scaling rapidly. Data centres are increasing power densities by orders of magnitude. Distributed energy resources are turning consumers into generators. Power electronics, solid‑state switching and direct current are no longer niche technologies, but core features of modern electricity systems. Each of these changes places new stresses on equipment that was never designed for today’s operating conditions. Testing is what turns…