Agriculture, Food & Beverage

**This story first appeared in the October 2025 edition of AMT Magazine** Beloved by sushi chefs and recreational fishers alike, the Kingfish – also known as the Yellowtail, Haku or Kingi – attracts market prices comparable to salmon and is found in plentiful numbers off the coast of Australia and New Zealand. For the team at New Zealand public research organisation the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research  – today known as Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) – the fish is also an ideal candidate for commercial farming. Of course, New Zealand is far from the only nation developing markets for the fish, with hatchery production now well established in Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Chile, and Mexico. Until recently, ESNZ said, most on-growing of the fingerlings born in these commercial hatcheries was done in sea-cages, until the fish reached their market size of 3kg. But to truly take advantage of what it saw as a lucrative opportunity, the team at ESNZ worked on technology to support commercial-scale hatchery production in a land-based recirculating…

A versatile new family of safety and efficiency-focused medium frequency induction heaters is being introduced to Australasia by the global motion technology company Schaeffler, providing shorter heating times and reducing bearing mounting and dismounting times by half. The new generation medium frequency technology (MFT) heaters enhance safety during bearing mounting and dismounting by eliminating the need for traditional heating methods that involve open flames, such as gas burners or oil baths, ensuring more controlled and stress-free heating of machinery components. Crucially, unlike conventional heaters suitable only for mounting, MFT heaters offer a large thermal capacity and flexible installation methods that enable safe and efficient bearing dismounting. This minimises the risk of damage to both the bearing and the shaft, thereby allowing for quick dismantling and rebuilding times. The productivity gains of the energy-conserving MFT heaters – including nine models ranging from 1.2kW to 45kW – dramatically reduce maintenance costs, even for heavy workpieces such as gear wheels, gear drives, bearings, and couplings. The ‘HEATER’ series of induction…

Alfex is proud to showcase the latest in Laser cutting, marking and engraving systems, CNC Machine Tools & Industrial 3D Printers at AMW2025. Visit us at Stand MT290 (Alfex) and Stand MT300 (Haas CNC) to see live demonstrations of cutting-edge manufacturing solutions. Whether you're looking to increase capabilities or improve production efficiencies, the team at Alfex is ready to help with over 300 years of combined experience in the manufacturing and engineering space. Alfex is set to make waves at this year’s Australian Manufacturing Week, showcasing the world’s leading laser brands, including Epilog Laser, Lotus Laser, Kern Lasers, ACSYS Lasers, VISION engraving and routing systems, and BOFA Filtered Extraction systems. As a trusted provider of high-quality equipment and exceptional service, Alfex continues to support businesses nationwide in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies. From precision engraving to high-performance laser cutting and marking, these industry-leading brands provide Australian businesses with state-of-the-art solutions that enhance productivity, accuracy, and efficiency. Whether for aerospace, defence, automotive, industrial, or creative applications, Alfex delivers the right tools to drive innovation and business growth. Experts will discuss how these solutions can streamline…

The Gaia EnviroTech business is the Bioenergy and Waste Management division of Gekko Systems, based in Ballarat, Victoria. The company has partnered with Jock Charles from the Berrybank Farm, who has successfully operated an Anaerobic Digester (AD) on piggery effluent in the Ballarat region for 30 years. The modular biodigester design was developed by Gaia EnviroTech and is manufactured onsite at their local facility. The expandable configuration is targeted to treat 5-20k tpa organic waste and upwards. Objectives The system in this case study was installed as a 12-month research and development project to establish the viability of an anaerobic digestion plant designed to convert dairy effluent to energy and minimise odour. The secondary objectives were to increase the nutrient value of the manure and ease handling constraints (e.g. allow longer-term storage). This was required to provide the dairy with a viable option for future herd expansion. The family-owned dairy houses cattle in a large shed and periodically takes them to pasture. In addition to milk production, potatoes are grown on-site and benefit from the nutrient value of the manure.…

The Australian food industry is poised for continued growth between 2024 and 2028, driven by several key factors, according to the report Australia: Food Manufacturing Market Overview 2024–2028. Among the most significant trends are the rising demand for health-focused, sustainable food products and more premium and convenience foods. The report states, “These shifts are anticipated to spur product development and packaging innovation, catalysing growth across various market sub-sectors. “Simultaneously, sustainability and transparency are becoming increasingly important in food manufacturing, with consumers demanding more eco-friendly packaging and clear, honest labelling. Manufacturers who successfully respond to these demands will likely enhance their market shares during this forecast period.” Regulatory changes, trade agreements and macroeconomic factors will further influence the market. Therefore, understanding the competitive dynamics, market segmentation, and growth opportunities will be essential for food and beverage manufacturers to navigate this evolving market landscape successfully. The Australian food and beverage industry also increasingly benefits from technological advancements, particularly in automation, digitisation, and artificial intelligence. These technologies, which aim to increase efficiency and reduce costs, are expected to reshape the…

Extrusion is increasingly becoming one of the primary methods of producing various traditional and innovative food products, and the company’s extrusion tooling is designed to accommodate all of them. From pasta, hot dogs, and snack foods to chewing gum, licorice, and pet food, Guill’s balanced flow designs control dimensional tolerances to increase product quality while reducing waste. Custom-made extrusion tooling and dies make it easy to efficiently and consistently manufacture various food products. More precise tooling allows for considerably reduced wasted extrudate. Furthermore, Guill’s extrusion tooling enables accurate temperature control, manufacturing food at high and low temperatures. Typical end products include pelletising heads, profile dies, large-diameter rotary heads, flexible, simple, and standard crossheads, Spiderless, and the Bullet. The 100 Series offers single- or multi-strand extrusion tooling with or without multi-layer capabilities. Optional custom design is also available. The 200 Series ensures improved tolerance and accuracy at increased production speeds, greater product consistency, and reduced waste. The 2000 Series large-diameter inline heads feature a low-volume flow and heated core pin and can be expanded to…

A new generation system from European-based inspection equipment manufacturer Antares Vision Group allows customers to select individual inspection modules and integrate them into one machine. Food manufacturers can select what they need to suit their specific production line. Modules include X-ray, check weigher, leak detection, seal, code, and label inspection. All the modules are designed specifically for the food industry. The machine’s hygienic construction features quick-removal conveyors and a completely washable structure. “Antares Vision Group’s ‘ALL-IN-ONE’ inspection machine is a game changer for the food industry,” said Phillip Garro, Enmin’s Sales Manager (Inspection & Packaging). “Multiple processes can be combined into a single machine providing a solution that fully guarantees the product’s compliance in an extremely reduced footprint,” he added. “Plus, all the modules can be controlled through a single control screen for maximum convenience and efficiency.” A popular combination of modules is X-ray, checkweigher and leak detection. This configuration provides a comprehensive product inspection by these three powerful modules. Firstly, the innovative LDS module checks the package's correct sealing, detecting micro-leaks. Then, a state-of-the-art X-ray inspection system…

Emerson has launched its AVENTICS™ Series XV pneumatic valves. These valves are designed with interoperability in mind to provide machine builders across multiple industries and factory automation applications with a flexible and cost-effective valve platform. The new valves are ideal for global machine builders and end users, with universal threads and other features supporting regional standards and global availability. Series XV valves provide higher flow rates in a compact valve package, enabling more efficient and flexible pneumatic system performance for factory automation, automotive and tyre, and food and packaging applications. This helps manufacturers boost productivity and allows them to offer products customised for specific markets and customer preferences. “In all industries, manufacturers need high-performance technology that gives them the agility and flexibility to stay ahead of rapidly changing market demands,” said Wolf Gerecke, director of product marketing for Emerson´s machine automation business. “The new AVENTICS Series XV pneumatic valves deliver that performance with optimised flow, a wide range of valves and an extensive portfolio of accessories.” Series XV valves include the XV03, which provides flow volumes of…