Opened by the Minister for Industry and welcomed by the locals, AMW2025 begins in earnest
After a weekend of elections for the nation, this industry is ready to show off its wares. While everyone else was tearing into their democracy sausage, the exhibitors were bumping into the MCEC, preparing for this show. Tuesday morning and it all looks fantastic.
Come 10am, the Hon Colin Brooks, Victorian Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, opened the AMW2025 show. “Our government is really proud to sponsor this event and to provide such an important platform for the manufacturing sector,” he said. “We hold this advanced manufacturing event in the nation’s manufacturing capital. There’s coffee for our culture here and our significant sporting events. Still, Victoria is also home to the biggest employers, with the country’s manufacturing sector comprising more than 23,000 businesses and employing some 273,000 people. The manufacturing sectors are the driving force for the state’s economy. Contributing 6% to our gross state products, Victoria exports nearly $26bn worth of goods. Our manufacturers are thriving in Victoria with employment in the sector growing by some 10% in the two years to the end of 2024.”
And so the AMW2025 show begins. The whole floor looks amazing.
Like everyone, I started my walk of the floor. PFMWorks has rebranded itself to, as described by CEO and Founder Trevor Calder, “be better aligned with the product that we’re selling. It’s a big creature that we’ve put together now that can be moulded to the client’s production and supply chain.”
PFMWorks updated the approach to the technology they presented for planning, scheduling and execution. “Yes, we’ve got a totally different model which is called the ‘dynamic production method’, which is pretty much the polar opposite to ‘finite capacity scheduling’ that every ERP system out there uses,” said Calder. “We want to change how manufacturers manufacture so they deliver things on time, every time.”
There was a short lull into the afternoon, but at around 2:30, it seemed like all the manufacturers had finished their shifts outside in the real world and descended into the city to visit AMW.
The first impression of the AMW show here in the MCEC is that it is clean and tidy. Well measured out, the Zones are filled with the best examples of manufacturing technology, far and away the most up-to-date displays of precision, market-ready hardware, and the friendliest up-vibe bunch of operators. I’m impressed.
Down at the Convention Centre end of the AMW hall, there are some real attractions, so don’t miss out on the walk. It’s worth it. AML3D has a few examples of the 3d-printed and machined cogs for the naval jobs they’ve been doing lately. “Yes, we’re doing a lot of work in the defence space at the moment, and we’re looking to progress into general manufacturing, as our technology is becoming accepted throughout the industry,” said Global VP of Business Development Stuart Banks down at AM605 where they’re showing their work with ARCEMY.
AML3D has recently just opened a facility in Ohio in the US. “That’s been operational since the first of November, and it’s proving to be a great boon for our plans in the many sectors we’re working in.”
AMW is a chance for AML3D to bring its technology home and make it available for the local markets. “We’ve done an awful lot of work in other sectors, and we’re looking to progress further into industrial markets.”
Some of the parts that AML3D has on display are large, flat bow parts. “Typically, this would have about a four to six month lead time forecasting of forgings, but we’ve managed to produce this in two weeks and we’re showcasing this technology and the capability so they can help Australian producers to overcome some of the bottlenecks around supply chain issues that they’re having at the moment,” Banks added.
If you are considering coming to AMW2025 later in the week, I suggest you get down here on Wednesday and stay here. There is so much to see, it is worth staying until Friday. If you haven’t registered yet, do it now online.