Month: September 2026

**This story originally appeared in the July 2026 edition of AMT Magazine** These small inefficiencies are easy to ignore. They don’t stop production, they don’t trigger alarms, and no one really tracks them. But over time, they quietly build up into real cost. Waste Is Not Always Visible In abrasive-related work such as cutting, grinding and sanding, consumables are constantly used. Because each item is relatively low in cost, they are often not managed closely. But in reality, a lot of waste comes from very normal daily behaviour. For example, a worker may switch between cutting and grinding tasks several times during the day. When changing discs, partially used ones are often left aside or mixed together. Later on, instead of finding the original disc, a new one gets opened. The same happens with sanding discs. Many are replaced before they…

**This story originally appeared in the July 2026 edition of AMT Magazine** The export relationship between Australian manufacturers and the United States has shifted. A relatively stable trading relationship has become a landscape of policy uncertainty, and businesses delivering their US strategy on historical assumptions are likely to be caught flat-footed. The US remains Australia’s second-largest two-way trading partner for manufactured goods including medical devices, advanced machinery, food processing equipment, and metals. Manufacturers that quickly adapt to the changing landscape will emerge with a structural advantage. The Tariff Reality Recently introduced sweeping reciprocal tariff frameworks treat many imported goods as leverage in broader geopolitical negotiations within US trade policy. Australia’s strong diplomatic relationship has not translated into tariff exemptions. Exposed industries include metals and fabricated products, food processing equipment, medical devices, and precision manufacturing. A 10–25% duty applied to the US customs value can quickly eat through operating margins. Understanding the correct Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification is imperative to prevent paying higher duty rates than required. Engaging a licensed US customs broker to audit…

NSW opens new $6M Innovative Manufacturing Adoption Fund AMTIL welcomes the announcement of the opening of the new $6 million Innovative Manufacturing Adoption Fund…