Artificial Intelligence

The Western Australian Government has today announced plans for a proposed large-scale defence manufacturing hub aimed at strengthening sovereign industrial capability and attracting international investment. The announcement was made today at IODS 2026 by Premier Roger Cook with Minister for Defence Industries Paul Papalia and Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, and outlined the Government’s call for industry participation in shaping the proposed precinct. Expressions of interest (EOI) are now open to local, national and international companies to help shape the proposed hub, which would focus on advanced defence manufacturing and supporting technologies. Areas identified as part of the opportunity include aerospace, autonomous systems, advanced materials, precision manufacturing, energetics and space technologies. AMTIL strongly supports this initiative as it aligns with our commitment to championing advanced manufacturing growth, fostering industry collaboration, and ensuring Australian manufacturers remain globally competitive. The Western Australian Government said the initiative was intended to support Australia’s sovereign defence capability while contributing to allied supply chains and growing global demand for advanced defence manufacturing. “This is a call out to our…

Newly announced technology greatly expands capacity of AI Replicates real world physics to truncate lead time and simulate stress testing of products Rolling out to select partners imminently, with plans for broad availability this year At 3DEXPERIENCE World in Houston, a joint announcement from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Dassault Systèmes CEO Pascal Daloz put “physical AI” and production‑grade virtual twins at the centre one of the largest engineering gatherings of the year. The message delivered to nearly ten thousand attendees was bold: a new class of industrial AI, grounded in physics rather than just language, could compress the distance between concept and reality in dramatic fashion. Whether or not this partnership ends up defining the next decade of manufacturing software, the idea of physical AI matters. It signals a shift that could reshape design, simulation, testing and factory optimisation for manufacturers of all sizes, including in Australia’s precision sector. “AI is just an engine — you…

**This story first appeared in the October 2025 edition of AMT Magazine** Industry 4.0 – the integration of digital technologies into all aspects of industry – has been well established for some time now. But now researchers are looking at ways of using robots with a much older, more unpredictable technology. The human being. At the heart of the human-centric approach of Industry 5.0 is collaborative robotics, or “cobotics” – which are designed to work safely alongside human workers, and currently for sale and working at sites across Australia. Australian Cobotics Centre (ACC) associate director for research training Glenda Caldwell says there’s “a big shift” for researchers to consider. “Industry 4.0 is very much about how industry develops and uses more advanced technologies in their processes,” Caldwell says. “So the focus of Industry 4.0 is the technology itself, whereas Industry 5.0 is looking at, well, what are the complex problems that we face… and how do we use those technologies in different industry sectors to address those problems?” “Now we understand we’ve got these technologies,…

Linde Engineering has signed an agreement with PsiQuantum to deliver a cryogenic cooling plant for the world’s first utility-scale quantum computer in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The plant will be one of the largest cryogenic cooling facilities ever constructed to operate a quantum computer. It will cool the cryogenic cabinets housing PsiQuantum’s new Omega chipset and other systems. Quantum computing is anticipated to propel advancements in healthcare, energy, material design, and encryption, while the project in Brisbane advances Australia’s quantum ecosystem across academia, commercial partnerships, and supply chains. The large-scale cryogenic cooling infrastructure will achieve the required 4 Kelvin range (-269 °C, -452 °F). Linde Engineering is among the very few companies worldwide with the necessary expertise, having installed over 500 cryogenic plants. These plants serve high-tech industries such as semiconductors and magnetic resonance imaging and scientific applications like particle accelerators and fusion research. “We are proud to help PsiQuantum realise their ambitious vision for quantum computing. This collaboration demonstrates how combined expertise can drive advancements in technology and innovation,” says John van der Velden, Senior Vice President Global…

Emerging AI technologies coupled with a digitally savvy and a highly educated workforce are giving Australia the opportunity to reinvent its manufacturing industry as a high-value, niche enterprise capable of supporting high-end jobs. The transformative change will manifest as autonomous manufacturing, in which machines independently make decisions, boosting productivity, ensuring quality, enhancing safety, minimising waste, optimising energy consumption, and so forth. The relevant technologies that support these capabilities are already accessible, as evidenced by autonomous vehicles. Australian mines have been early adopters of these technologies, with self-driving trucks operating in several local mines. The algorithms that facilitate decision-making are trained through machine learning, enabling machines to emulate human cognition. This capability allows machines to perceive their environment, reason, and make rational and safe decisions—with the advantage that machines can perform these tasks consistently and faster than humans due to their superior data processing capacity. Engineers and data scientists collaborate to guide the algorithms. As the nation’s premier research organisation focusing on translational applied research, CSIRO is committed…

Australian-built generative AI software trialled by iconic American confectionery company Tootsie Roll could provide hundreds of millions of dollars in savings to the manufacturing industry. The software includes real-time insights that facilitate a greater connection between the C-suite and operational teams. Australian manufacturing efficiency software company OFS has launched Mayvn AI, a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence platform designed to improve productivity and strengthen communication between manufacturing executives and operational teams. The Australian-designed and engineered software, Mayvn AI, offers real-time information and insights into what’s happening operationally in manufacturing facilities. This can encompass current issues delaying production all the way through to preparing a business case for capital investment and the related return on investment (ROI). Mayvn AI has been trialled with major Australian and global manufacturers, including the iconic US confectionery maker Tootsie Roll Industries, which has reduced specific data-related procedures by over 90%. “There are things we ‘knew’ were a problem, but Mayvn AI validates and quickly provides us with data to effectively demonstrate the impact of those problems,” said Eric Bader, Manufacturing Systems Manager at Tootsie Roll Industries. “We’ve…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising supply chain planning, but a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. AI isn’t just for highly advanced supply chains; regardless of maturity, every company can benefit. The key is aligning AI adoption with current capabilities rather than rushing into advanced solutions without a solid foundation. However, blindly implementing AI—without understanding your supply chain maturity or selecting the right technology partner—can be risky. AI success depends on choosing tools suited to your needs and ensuring proper integration. The Five Levels of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Maturity and AI Readiness A Supply Chain Maturity Model helps businesses assess where they stand and determine what AI can offer at each stage. While various models exist globally (Gartner, Oliver Wight, Deloitte, PwC, SCOR), the DMS Manufacturing Supply Chain Maturity Score is tailored to Australian and New Zealand manufacturers. This model evaluates people, processes, technology, strategy, and collaboration, helping businesses identify strengths, weaknesses, and AI opportunities. Here’s how AI fits into each maturity stage: Disjointed Manufacturing Supply Chains (Low Maturity) Limited processes, poor…

The Briscoe Group’s 25,000sqm distribution centre is set to open in early 2026. Investing at least NZ$100m in the facility will significantly enhance Briscoe Group’s supply chain capabilities and efficiency. Situated in Drury South, Auckland, this new centre will replace the current 8,000sqm facility, increasing storage capacity by more than four times and accommodating KNAPP’s state-of-the-art automated shuttle system. The automation contract significantly advances the Briscoe Group’s supply chain evolution. KNAPP’s advanced systems, including the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) Evo Shuttle and Pick-it-Easy Evo goods-to-person stations, will optimise storage and picking for smaller products like apparel and footwear, enhancing efficiency across the board. “This partnership with KNAPP enables us to enhance stock accuracy and expedite fulfilment, creating an improved customer experience while optimising in-store inventory,” said Briscoe Group Supply Chain General Manager Darren Porteous. The automation will bolster the on-shelf availability of products in Briscoe Group’s stores, allowing the Group to restock high-demand items as often as daily, thereby enhancing both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Various online orders will also be fulfilled from the DC using automation, minimising the…

As fire safety technology evolves, new solutions are redefining security across domestic and industrial settings. The global fire protection system market is expected to expand by US$14.58bn between 2024 and 2028, with artificial intelligence (AI) significantly shaping these advancements. At Brooks, with our parent company EI, we continue to develop fire safety solutions with broad applications in every changing world. With a growing focus on integrating fire alarms with other essential safety and building management systems, future developments will likely prioritise enhanced user experience through greater personalisation and automation - creating systems that align seamlessly with daily routines and proactively address human needs. Over the last decade, AI and big data have transformed many aspects of life, bringing sophisticated innovations to the building and construction industry. AI applications in fire detection, risk assessment, and predictive fire analysis are on the rise, making fire safety technology more intuitive and seamlessly embedded in our lives. With advances like real-time fire detection systems, AI may soon allow us to predict and prevent fire…

Quantum researchers from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have demonstrated that quantum computing can significantly improve the way we solve complex problems involving large datasets. They have highlighted the potential of using quantum in areas such as real-time traffic management, agricultural monitoring, healthcare, and energy optimisation. By leveraging quantum computing's unique properties, like superposition and entanglement, researchers compressed and analysed a large dataset with speed, accuracy, and efficiency that traditional computers cannot match. Unlike regular binary computer bits that are either ‘on’ or ‘off,’ quantum bits (qubits) can exist in multiple states at once, allowing quantum computers to process many possibilities simultaneously. Dr Muhammad Usman, a CSIRO quantum scientist and the senior author of the study, said the research team demonstrated that quantum machine learning can simplify large sets of data without sacrificing important details. “With the global volume of data doubling every few years, quantum computing’s ability to handle this complexity will become increasingly valuable,” Dr Usman said. “Our work focused on groundwater monitoring as a case study, but quantum machine learning has broad applications in any field requiring fast, detailed…

Pick-and-place robots are increasingly important in automated processes, such as assembly lines. With its EXPT, the automation specialist Festo offers an exact and dynamic solution for this. Operating at up to 150 picks per minute, the robot works continuously. For this, safe and gentle feeding of the cables to the gripper had to be guaranteed. The unique feature—a rotating additional axis—led to increased wear of the cables. With a unique energy chain for tight installation spaces and dynamic applications, including a rotation module, the cables are now safely guided at high rotation angles Problem Festo SE & Co. KG is a leading provider of automation solutions for processes and entire production plants. The manufacturer also includes its universal parallel robot, "EXPT," in its extensive product portfolio. The tripod-based pick-and-place robot works with high performance and precision and manages up to 150 picks per minute. Its design and control system enable flexible and cross-application use, enabling convenient implementation in applications with several robots in the production line. An A5 axis was to be implemented at the lower end…

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has opened a $6.8m facility in Clayton, Victoria. The facility is dedicated to bringing its printed flexible solar technology out of the lab and into the real world, helping to meet the growing demand for renewable energy across sectors. CSIRO’s flexible solar cells are printed on thin plastic films, unlike traditional silicon solar panels. This makes them lightweight and portable, making them suitable for various applications in urban construction, space, defence, mining, emergency management, disaster relief, and wearables. CSIRO Executive Director, Digital, National Facilities and Collections, Professor Elanor Huntington, said the cutting-edge CSIRO Printed Photovoltaic (PV) Facility is the newest addition to CSIRO’s suite of critical infrastructure that enable the industries of tomorrow – in this case, a thriving Australian flexible solar manufacturing industry. “Through CSIRO’s new Printed PV Facility, industry partners can access both researcher expertise and specialised equipment to improve and apply flexible solar technology in novel ways, anywhere there is sunlight,” Professor Huntington said. “It’s exciting to see the techniques that enabled another great CSIRO invention…