Industry News

Victoria’s most advanced and innovative manufacturers are being encouraged to nominate for the 2024 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, supported by the Allan Labor Government. Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins has opened nominations for this year’s awards – the state’s largest celebration of local manufacturers, recognising individuals and companies that embrace new technologies, excel in business innovation, drive exports and boost the state’s economy. “These awards shine a spotlight on our brightest manufacturing talent and I encourage individuals and businesses to nominate and get recognised for their achievements,” Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins. “Victoria is the home of advanced manufacturing in Australia and we’re continuing to support this sector because we know how critical it is to growing our economy and creating great local jobs.” There will be 14 awards presented including ‘Leader in Construction Technologies’, ‘Leader in Health Technologies’, ‘Leader in Textile, Clothing and Footwear’, ‘Leader in Transport and Rail’, ‘Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year’, the flagship ‘Leader in Manufacturing’ and the new category for 2024 ’Leader in Gender Equality and Inclusion’. Now in its 22nd…

Grants of up to $5m to help innovative startups and high-growth small and medium businesses (SMEs) to commercialise their big ideas are now available through the Industry Growth Program (IGP), a part of the Albanese Government’s a Future Made in Australia agenda. The IGP grants will translate more world-leading Australian know-how into viable businesses, growing the pipeline of investment-ready projects for the $15bn National Reconstruction Fund to consider. These grants will provide targeted support for SMEs across the NRF’s seven priority areas to overcome the challenges associated with growing and scaling up through two grant streams: Early-stage commercialisation grants from $50,000 to $250,000 to help establish the commercial viability of an innovative product, process, or service. Commercialisation and Growth grants from $100,000 to $5m to help push ideas from prototyping through to market readiness stages. Grants will help develop strategies for entry to market and scaling up into national and international markets. Grant funding through these programs is matched with the IGP’s specialised advice and mentoring program, which has already supported more than 340 businesses since opening in November…

MCHND is a South Australian engineering workshop focused on precision machining using 3D CAD/CAM software and multi-axis CNC machines. The team at MCHND are dedicated to creating intricate components for the exacting demands of space, medical, aerospace, and defence sectors. MCHND is based in Richmond, an inner-west suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. Business partners Jimmy Jolly and Mike Harding admit they work well together. They completed the last half of their toolmaking apprenticeships together at the same company and their friendship flourished. “We are both very different people, but our work ethic is the same,” says Jimmy. “We push each other and get along quite well. It has been a fruitful partnership, something that has been extremely successful for both of us.” Mike’s career spans a few diverse industries including a three-year tenure in the UK’s Formula One sector. He has honed a comprehensive skill set encompassing CAD design, 5-axis CAM machining, 9-axis multitasking machining, manual machining, and astute business management. Jimmy was brought up in an engineering family. His father was a Toolmaker with his own machining business, building historic racing…

The core issues facing supply chains in 2023 – labour availability, capacity, space availability and resiliency – aren’t going away in 2024. But how supply chain leaders address these challenges continues to evolve. Moving into the new year, we are seeing organisations finding new ways around barriers to automation, increasing their investments in established technologies, and seeking new levels of efficiency and productivity through orchestration and artificial intelligence. Here’s a more detailed look at some of the trends we expect to see this year. Removing barriers to automation Smaller and emerging organisations face the same labour, efficiency, and speed challenges as their larger competitors. Yet, they often lack the resources to address these challenges through capital-intensive automation projects, putting them at a competitive disadvantage. In 2024, flexible infrastructure technologies such as mobile robotics and AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles) will play a larger role in leveling the playing field. Swisslog’s CarryPick system, for example, is ideal for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) because it is fast and cost-effective to…

If you weren't aware, autonomous robots (AMRs) moving materials around factory, warehouse and manufacturing floors is a booming business. According to US AMR maker OTTO Motors by Rockwell Automation, it's a billion-dollar market today, with market intelligence firm Interact Analysis predicting growth of 30% per year, with the field projected to be worth almost $6bn by 2027. OTTO Motors' VP of Product Jay Judkowitz says there's an increasing imperative around reshoring manufacturing, and the best method to compete with the low-cost overseas manufacturing we've been using for a few decades is automation; what he calls 'more plants in more places with fewer roles per plant, but more production and a greater number of safer and more fulfilling manufacturing jobs in aggregate'. One of the areas most ripe for savings is in materials handling, with Judkowitz citing research that says it uses about 25% of the workforce, 55% of the floorspace and 87% of the production time in a factory. Showcasing their work in September…

AMTIL would like to thank all attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and everyone else who made the Sydney show such a success.  We’ve had so much feedback and conversations about what the metal fabrication industry is doing in Australia, and how so many are also exporting resulting products to the world. The number of people walking through the door at the show over the three days in Sydney was 7732.  That's about 28% increase on the show's Sydney audience in 2022. AMW2024 has been an absolute blast. Very successful on so many levels for the exhibitors. The many attendees we spoke to were pretty stunned there was so much activity on the ground in Australian manufacturing. Others were beaming with pride because they had such great interest and results.  The next big show of course for us is Melbourne 2025. Judging by the 70% filled rate for the MCEC venue right now, AMW2025 in Melbourne will be a massive show. For a closer look at the visuals of AMW2024, click HERE See you in Melbourne!…

The sun seemed to rise early today to greet AMW2024. One last chance to see what we have ready for the final day of the Sydney show. Please register now online HERE or come down to Darling Harbour where you can also register onsite.  We close the show at 4pm. This morning Drew Hoxey was very busy showing off the industrial safety guard rails from Axelent.  X-Guard, X-Rail, X-Tray and X-Protect are completely modular, infinitely customisable and easy on the eye. The Axelent Australia stand was one very compact establishment.  They just craned in the container and opened the side. Hoxey says the presentation was everything and the show has been a very positive experience for the company. Cameron Jamieson of J Tech Laser has picked up the Australian distribution of the HSG lasers now on display down beside the AMTIL stand on the show floor. Brought in from China, these machines are ideal for onshoring jobs and accelerating the Made in Australia program. “HSG's one of the biggest…

There was a healthy dose of enthusiasm among the stands at AMW2024 today. I reckon people had some good sleeps because the word is this is the day to impress. Like Wednesday, the hours are extended to 7 pm to assist with attendees visiting later in the day, and giving everyone more time to check out every corner of the AMW2024 show. So much going on and there was an uptick in visitors after hours last night as predicted. Among the many scanners on display at the huge Hi-Tech Metrology stand there were some of the very latest solutions, in this case a handheld 3D scanner, an Ametek Creaform Handiscan Elite mounted on a robot arm, which was scan-building a digital twin of an object on a platform for later inspection. There were Hexagon coordinate Measuring Machines, and a range of micron-accurate digital instruments from Trimos, Sylvac and Bowers. Another stood like a surveyor’s LiDAR station on a tripod. That’s where the similarity stops. This Leica Absolute Tracker is able to scope a viewed surface from a…

With much fanfare, today the Australian Manufacturing Week event opened at the ICC in the beautiful Darling Harbour precinct. The show was officially opened by the NSW Government Industry Executive Director Maroun El-Khoury, standing in for the Hon Houssos, the very first Minister for Local Manufacturing, and a message from NSW Premier Chris Minns. “I want to extend my best regards to everyone attending Australian Manufacturing Week,” said Minns. “This state is home to more than 28,000 manufacturing businesses and it employs close to 300,000 people.” Minns also noted that the State generates more than $135bn of output each year. “If we work together, we are convinced manufacturing has a bright future in New South Wales,” he said. Introduced by MC Warrick Perry, the gathered crowd experienced an educational Welcome to Country and Idiki Ceremony by the Aboriginal Land Council councillor Brendan Levin to Gadigal Land on the Eyora Nation. Not long before, guests enjoyed an exclusive breakfast upstairs with Simon Kuestenmacher, the Director and Co-Founder of The Demographics Group who presented his findings on…

In August 2023, Elizabeth was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame for Service to Industry. She spoke with Sonya Murphy for AMT. AMT: What were your initial thoughts when you received the Honour Roll at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards this year in Melbourne? Elizabeth Lewis-Gray: I was expecting to have been nominated for a regional manufacturing award, or the women in manufacturing award. As the night went on, those awards came up and I wasn’t nominated for them. Then I thought maybe it was the medium manufacturer’s award, but soon realised I hadn’t been nominated for that either. I looked at the program and came to the realisation that I was up for the top gong for the night. It was an exciting, and very special night shared with my husband, daughters,…

Lorraine comes with a wealth of experience in an industry membership peak body and the not-for-profit sector, having spent the past 15 years with AusBiotech, an Australian biotechnology industry organisation, including the past five and a half years as their CEO. After an exhaustive selection process, the AMTIL Board is pleased to see Lorraine Maxwell take office on 1st May. Lorraine led AusBiotech’s work to grow and promote Australia’s strength in biotechnology, influence policy change with state and Federal governments, serve and build its 3000-strong membership, galvanise networks, and succeed through strategic engagement and partnerships. She has played a key role in developing and advocating for manufacturing policy and support, specifically in medical manufacturing. She is currently chairing CSIRO’s Manufacturing Business Unit Advisory Group, and serves as a Ministerial appointment to the Trade 2040 Taskforce. Lorraine’s broader experience includes policy and communications roles with a multinational pharmaceutical manufacturer, a not-for profit membership organisation, a university faculty…

In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, the search for efficiency, sustainability, and innovation is at the forefront of industry priorities. As digital transformation reshapes traditional manufacturing processes, there's a growing need for solutions that not only enhances operational efficiency, but also integrate seamlessly with emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and smart automation. Rittal, renowned for its German engineering excellence, offers a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to meet the complex demands of modern manufacturing. As Industry 4.0 and sustainability shift from emerging trends to essential requirements, Rittal's offerings, including the Blue e+ S cooling systems, Micro Data Centres, and Eplan software, have emerged as the ultimate solution for contemporary manufacturing needs. Blue e+ S cooling systems The Blue e+ S cooling systems represent a significant advancement in machine cooling technology, focusing on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. These systems are engineered to minimise energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing operations. By maintaining optimal operating conditions, the Blue e+ S series extends the lifespan of machinery and lowers operational costs, marking a step forward in…

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is inviting small to medium enterprises (SMEs) working on advanced manufacturing solutions to apply for a self-paced, 10-week, online program that can help them turn an idea into an R&D opportunity. 'Innovate to Grow' was launched in 2020, and in just four years the free program has equipped over 500 SMEs with the knowledge and tools required to progress their research. CSIRO recently announced a $20m investment to provide SMEs with greater access to vital research and development (R&D) opportunities to accelerate their growth. The funding will support an additional 600 SMEs through its Innovate to Grow program, kicking off with its Advanced Manufacturing cohort. CSIRO’s Director of Manufacturing, Marcus Zipper, explained how CSIRO’s unique position in the research ecosystem drives innovation to advance Australian manufacturing. “Advanced manufacturing is a vitally important sector, employing over 800,000 people across Australia,” Dr Zipper said. “It’s an exciting area of research and development for CSIRO, and we work collaboratively to connect SMEs with new technologies to improve efficiency, productivity, health, safety and environmental outcomes, while driving prosperity…