Government News

Anthony Albanese has made a major speech in Brisbane where he outlined the creation of a Future Made in Australia Act. The Prime Minister has said on Thursday at the Queensland Media Club, that Australia needs to stay in the global race for jobs. This is legislation that centres on using subsidies to boost domestic manufacturing and guarantee more local jobs. This package covers new and existing projects in Growth Industries like clean energy, batteries, and critical minerals. But this is not a new idea. Massive taxpayer subsidies are on offer to private companies in countries like the US with their Inflation Reduction Act, and also with the EU, Japan, and Korea, even Canada. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in his speech that Australia needed to sharpen its elbows and offer these incentives or risk losing entire industries overseas. This will be a key part of the PM's pitch for a second term in government with an election now around 12 months away. The effort would be consolidating existing efforts under one banner, which included the Hydrogen Headstart, the…

Don’t miss out!  Register online now AMTIL is proud of government entities promoting advanced manufacturers and leading precision technology manufacturers from within the industry who are taking the lead in giving this initiative a massive impetus through their involvement with the Australian Manufacturing Week brand. Chief among our sponsors is the New South Wales Government through its initiative Investment NSW, which is supporting AMW2024 as a Major Sponsor for the show held from 17-19 April at ICC Darling Harbour. The other industry leaders who are supporting the AMW initiative are the Queensland Government, the Australian Made Campaign, Kraftech, Finlease, Protected Flow (an initiative of The Execution Factor) and IFS. With Kraftech and Australian Made Campaign returning as sponsors reiterate their trust and belief in what AMW is achieving for Australian manufacturing. AMTIL through its most successful initiative of AMW and AMT works to Connect, Inform and Grow the Industry. AMW2024 is going to be one of the largest Australian manufacturing trade shows in the country, taking place right in…

Registrations are still open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024), held at the ICC in Darling Harbour in Sydney. AMW2024 will occupy more than 6,764 square metres of exhibition space at the ICC, with over 270 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. On Wednesday 17th April, AMW2024 will be officially opened by NSW Government Executive Director Maroun El-Khoury, and Brendan Kerin from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council doing a Welcome to Country presentation on the Future Solutions Speaker Session stage. AMW2024 will provide a platform to explore new technologies, meet industry leaders, and witness cutting-edge innovations in manufacturing, all available right now. After registering to visit AMW2024, you can log in and tap through to My Show Planner. The My Show Planner online tool has everything you need to make the most of your three days at AMW2024 in Sydney. My Show Planner is the AMW2024 visitors-side view of Map Your Show. You can connect with Exhibitors online, set up appointments and plan your time so you don’t…

While the clock ticks down to the opening of AMW2024 at the ICC in Darling Harbour in Sydney, why not have a quick look at the Exhibitors List. So many of the large Australian manufacturers will be present, as well as a great range of up-and-coming SMEs. There are seven Zones, each with a particular focus within their sector of manufacturing. The variety this year is amazing. There’s an Australian Manufacturers Pavilion, and companies supporting manufacturing are in the Manufacturing Solutions Zone. There’s robots, there’s Air Compression and Welding, there’s Plastics, and there’s the Additive Manufacturing Zone. The AMW2024 show opens at 10 AM each day, Wednesday and Thursday the show closes at 7 PM. Friday 19th April, the AMW2024 show goes from 10 AM until 4 PM. And then there are plenty of places to go explore after the show in Darling Harbour, or further out into the city of Sydney.  The wait is almost over. Registrations are now open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024), held at the ICC in Darling Harbour in Sydney. Organised and run by the Australian…

The Sydney Manufacturing Hub, a Core Research facility of the University of Sydney will demonstrate several examples of design optimisation for Additive Manufacturing at our – these are several functionally identical components manufactured in different materials by different processes. This graphically shows the differences between different materials for the same load carrying capacity. We also intend to showcase a Reverse Engineering project we are currently supporting in the UK for the manufacture of a set of exhaust stacks for a WWII Spitfire Mk 1A PR IV serial number AA810 that was shot down on a Photo Reconnaissance mission seeking the Germany Battleship Turpitz over Trondheim in Norway in April of 1942. The Pilot at the time was Flight Lieutenant Alastair “Sandy” Gunn who was to become famous for his part in the “Great Escape” of 76 men from Stalagluft III Prisoner of War Camp. He was recaptured and subsequently executed. The replica parts will be built in Inconel 718 on our Spectra H Electron Beam melting machinery. The parts were originally hand made and we will have one of the badly…

The wait is almost over!   It’s not too late to register and gather all your key exhibitors, stands, people and attractions. Registrations are still open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2024), held at the ICC in Darling Harbour in Sydney. Organised and run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2024 will occupy more than 6,764 square metres of exhibition space at the ICC, with over 270 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. If you haven’t done so already, REGISTER NOW online to visit Australian Manufacturing Week in Sydney and plan your days on the My Show Planner. After registering to visit AMW2024, you can log in and tap through to My Show Planner. The My Show Planner online tool has everything you need to make the most of your time at AMW2024 in Sydney. My Show Planner is the AMW2024 visitors-side view of Map Your Show. You can connect with Exhibitors online, set up appointments and plan your time so you don’t miss a thing. There is…

SOCO, a leading digital transformation specialist and IT solutions provider is excited to announce its second annual industry event scheduled for Tuesday, 14 May 2024, at the Microsoft Sydney Office. Titled “Breaking down the hype around AI and CoPilot for Manufacturers”, the event offers a unique opportunity for manufacturing leaders to explore the paradigm-shifting potential of CoPilot and AI, diving into the possibilities that CoPilot and AI offer in transforming processes for manufacturers and accelerating growth strategies. This event is designed to help participants unlock the potential of modern ERP solutions integrated with AI and CoPilot features, exemplified by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The event agenda includes keynote addresses on upcoming manufacturing tech trends and practical insights into leveraging CoPilot for greater efficiency, culminating in a roundtable discussion format that allows participants to gain actionable strategies, enhance visibility, optimise workflow, and foster informed decision-making in a collaborative environment. Donna South, Director of Membership at Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) commented: “Embracing innovation is essential for the sustainable advancement of the…

Here I have outlined five impacts of increasing WorkCover premiums and its effects on businesses, employees, and the broader economy. Financial Strain on Business Rising WorkCover premiums can impose a substantial financial burden on businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources. Increased premiums directly impact a company's bottom line, reducing profitability and hindering growth opportunities. This financial strain may force businesses to allocate funds originally earmarked for expansion, innovation, or employee benefits towards covering insurance costs, thereby impeding their ability to invest in crucial areas essential for long-term success. Deterrent to Employment Higher WorkCover premiums may act as a deterrent to employment, particularly for businesses operating in labor-intensive industries. Employers facing escalating insurance costs may be reluctant to hire additional staff or expand their workforce, fearing the added financial strain of increased premiums. Consequently, job creation could stagnate, exacerbating unemployment rates and impeding economic…

Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2023) is approaching fast! It’s not too late to register to be a part of the action. So many companies will be there to show their best and brightest, their latest and greatest products. REGISTER NOW ONLINE The Future Solutions Speaker sessions for Thursday will begin with a quick-paced run of speakers focussing on the skills and workforce development challenges facing manufacturers Training and Workforce Development support options available for the NSW Manufacturing sector Presented by Stacey Mitchell Bales - Manager and Claire McGregor - Senior Project Officer at Workforce Development, Training Services, NSW Government Future-proofing NSW Manufacturers Presented by Annette Dockerty, Program Lead, SME Engagement The 3D’s Digitalisation, Decarbonisation and Diversification Presented by David K Martin, Ai Group's Director of Emerging Industries and Innovation Training solutions for Industry 4.0 and ESG Presented by Laura Mabikafola, Executive General Manager, SkillsLab and Embedded Expertise (SAGE Group) Sustainability and TAFE NSW training offerings, learnings from Sustainability fellowship Presented by Peter Schreiner,…

The Federal Government has introduced a new round of business grants to startups and SMEs aimed at assisting the renewables and low-emission practices in projects. Minister for Industry, Science and Resources Ed Husic, said recently that companies were invited to submit proposals for ideas that address key challenges in increasing energy efficiency of commercial fishing operations; producing safe drinking water for remote First Nations communities; and researching alternative packaging for the Australian wine market. “We want to challenge small and medium businesses to make a strong contribution to Australia’s circular economy,” said Minister Husic. “These grants are an opportunity to bring Australian know-how to solve some of our most pressing economic and social issues, including renewables and low emission practices.” Funding is also available at a State level to help high-emitting manufacturing and mining facilities in NSW develop and deploy decarbonisation projects, from feasibility studies through to commissioning. Grants of up to $305,000 for high-emitting industries are available. Funding for instance will help NSW achieve significant and sustained industrial emissions reductions by 2030, in line with NSW’s target of net…

Poor cash flow management can exert significant pressure on manufacturing operations, making it difficult to meet expenses and potentially leading to insolvency and liability for company debts. In light of rising inflation, supply chain issues, and the ATO intensifying efforts to recover outstanding debts, it becomes essential for manufacturers to have strong control over their cash flow. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of cash flow dynamics, manufacturers can proactively manage liquidity and address potential concerns early on. If your manufacturing business is facing tougher trading conditions and tighter cash flow, it is recommended to consider implementing the following strategies and processes: 13-week cash flow forecast A detailed 13-week cash flow forecast is a valuable tool for monitoring both cash inflows from debtors and cash outflows for the payment of creditors. This forecast should encompass various elements such as employment entitlements and historical debt repayments. By continuously monitoring existing and upcoming expenses, manufacturers can ensure the availability of sufficient short-term assets to…

The Australian economy would be $100bn bigger and boosted by 42,000 new jobs by hitting a target of investing 3% of GDP in research and development, new analysis by the nation’s peak body for science and technology has found. Speaking at the National Press Club this week, Science & Technology Australia President Professor Sharath Sriram will make a powerful case for rapidly reaching the 3% target to turn Australia into an innovation nation, reveal how to create an innovation ecosystem that will secure the country’s economic future, and warn of the consequences of failing to do so. Professor Sriram is a research rockstar and a commercialisation champion based at RMIT. His work connecting industry and researchers has created more than $9m in commercial partnerships for his university, and spurred innovations including smart bedding products for aged-care support, a wearable device for continuous molecular monitoring, and miniature biosensors for monitoring respiratory illnesses. He will deliver the address as the centrepiece of STA’s Science Meets Parliament (SMP). Now into its 24th year, SMP brings hundreds of scientists and technologists from all…

Right now, we don’t have the technology to tackle almost half of the global emissions needed to reach net zero by 2050. To help solve this, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water are investing in researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs across NSW to fast-track the emerging clean technology solutions we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A thriving clean technology community in NSW creates huge economic growth fuelling new investment, new jobs and new opportunities for businesses and communities. Round 2 funding opportunities are now open as part of the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative. We’re backing the next wave of innovators that will help us reduce emissions, create jobs and unlock the substantial economic benefits of NSW’s transition to net zero by 2050. With up to $275m in funding, we want to support businesses: get their new clean technologies market-ready; expand their manufacturing capacity to produce low-carbon products and components for renewable energy. Use the eligibility checker on our website to help you select the right funding stream for your project.   Register for one of…