Industry 4.0

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…

**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,…

Flexible Smart Job Shop (FSJ) is an advanced, connected, and fully integrated flexible production system that enables the automatic production of various parts without operator intervention or machine downtime for retooling. The systems that make up the FSJ can operate independently or collaboratively, adapting to diverse production needs, from creating small batches to producing complex kits. The integration of intermediate storage and upstream and downstream workstations provides exceptional flexibility, making it ideal for optimising production flows and supporting just-in-time production, thus reducing idle times and waste. The RVS artificial vision system streamlines the management of robotic assistance, accelerates the intermediate recognition and handling steps, and maximises the value of the finished part. In fact, due to enhanced connectivity and the latest technological solutions, FSJ leverages the capabilities of artificial intelligence and robotics to optimise production processes. It also addresses the increasingly stringent environmental and economic sustainability requirements, contributing to an efficient and responsible production model. The FSJ consists of the new L3.G4 fibre laser, which is fully automated; the P-Robot, which…

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…

AMTIL sincerely hopes you enjoyed exploring the latest technology and network with industry leaders at Australia’s biggest precision engineering and manufacturing event. AMW2025 has proven to be the largest and most successful manufacturing trade show ever staged in Australia. The feedback has been pretty humbling. The Future Solutions Speaker program, sponsored proudly by the Victorian Government, active over the first three days has now completed, leaving room for the Schools and Skills Summit, where selected technical college students are given the chance to sit down in front of their potential future employers, as potential real-world future employees. After the presentations in the speakers room, groups of 15 or so students were shown around the halls and directed to where they could potentially end up as employees.  They even had badges depicting their ‘Future Employee’ status. The feedback was tremendous. Numbers through the doors will be revealed elsewhere, but suffice to say, the show was a roaring success. There seemed to be extra energy in people at the stands, right up to and even after the…

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…

For the first time, metal cutting and manufacturing solutions expert Sandvik Coromant will attend Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW). Taking place May 6 to 9, 2025, at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre (MCEC), Sandvik Coromant will join its software partners, Vericut and Mastercam, to provide an advisory service to visitors looking to optimise their machine investment and tool management strategies. AMW2025 will showcase the latest advancements in the manufacturing sector, featuring over 400 exhibitors and thousands of visitors. The exhibition is divided into various zones, including machine tools, additive manufacturing, manufacturing solutions, and robotics and automation. Sandvik Coromant will be in the Manufacturing Solutions Zone, exhibiting from stand MS360. To provide visitors with a comprehensive solution overview, Vericut and Mastercam will share a stand with Sandvik Coromant. This collaboration offers visitors the chance to explore the latest advancements in digital manufacturing, machine investment strategies, and process engineering. Sandvik Coromant will host an advisory booth to consult visitors on optimising their machining challenges, offering solutions for complex components and supporting new projects. At the stand, Manufacturing Wellness- a term coined by Sandvik…

The wait is almost over! It's not too late to register and gather all your key exhibitors, stands, people, and attractions. Registrations are open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2025), held at the MCEC in Melbourne. Organised and run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2025 will occupy more than 12,000 square metres of exhibition space at the MCEC, with over 400 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. That's just about the whole venue. This is going to be huge! If you haven’t done so already, REGISTER NOW online to visit Australian Manufacturing Week in Melbourne and plan your days on the My Show Planner. After registering to visit AMW2025, 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 AMW2025 in Melbourne. My Show Planner is the AMW2025 visitors-side view of Map Your Show. You can connect with Exhibitors online, set up appointments and plan…

Few people would disagree that we live in difficult and uncertain economic times. According to AMW exhibitor TXM Lean Solutions, this is not the time to stop focusing on improving business performance. Instead, businesses need a renewed focus on Lean and improvement to stay competitive and prepare themselves for recovery when it comes. TXM has identified three areas where businesses can focus to make gains when the financial going is tough. Reduce lead time Reducing lead time allows businesses to become more responsive to customer demands, particularly during economic slowdowns when customers have more options. The faster a business can fulfil orders, the more competitive it becomes, whether the economy is up or down. Shorter lead times also free up cash by reducing the time between spending money on raw materials and receiving payment from customers. A key tactic for reducing lead time is to work with suppliers to shorten order lead times, ultimately lowering your inventory. Start by mapping your end-to-end process using tools like the Manufacturing Agility Process® to identify areas for improvement and develop a plan to reduce lead…

A new Swisslog AutoStore grid-based automated warehouse solution is delivering uptime and energy-efficiency benefits to Komatsu’s new spare parts warehouse in Tarneit, Victoria. The new purpose-built warehouse is designed to store small-to-medium parts for machinery used in the construction sector, a major market for Komatsu in Victoria. “Construction is a demanding sector, so we required a system with high levels of uptime. Seeing AutoStore deliver 99.9% uptime globally, and Swisslog’s local projects regularly seeing higher numbers up to 99.99% gave us the confidence that we will be able to serve our customers at all times best,” said Komatsu General Manager, Warehousing, Hendrik Van Der Merwe. The Swisslog AutoStore solution for Komatsu has achieved Highly Commended recognition at the 2024 Australian Supply Chain and Logistics Award (ASCLA) in the Supply Chain Management category. This award category recognises an organisation that has demonstrated significant achievement or improvement within a section or across their entire supply chain. In addition to the construction sector, Komatsu provides essential equipment, technologies, and services to the mining, energy, government, waste, and quarry industries. The company’s purpose…

Registrations are now open for Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW2025), held at the MCEC on Southbank in Melbourne, 6 – 9 May 2025. Organised and run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL), AMW2025 will occupy more than 12,000 square metres of exhibition space at the MCEC, with nearly 400 organisations taking stands to showcase the latest manufacturing technologies, processes, and support services. Don’t miss out!  REGISTER NOW Online! What would be better than having a mobile app with you on the AMW2025 show floor with all your selected companies, their stands, where they are and what they are showing? First of all, Download the AMW Expo mobile app for your device from your preferred store, and log in using the same details you used to create your MyShowPlanner profile as the show approached. You can now log in to the App, and everything will be available on your phone, networked iPad, or tablet. Search products that are of specific interest to you. View the entire Exhibitor list. Research your relevant Product Zones. Navigate the Show Floor Plan to find…

South Australia’s wine export industry is thriving, contributing significantly to the country’s $2.39bn wine exports in 2024. According to Wine Australia, exports surged by 34% in value between January and September 2024, with shipment volumes climbing 7% to 643 million litres—the highest volume seen in years. Leading the charge, South Australia accounts for 52% of the nation’s wine production, followed by New South Wales (24%) and Victoria (15%). In 2024 alone, South Australia crushed 1.43 million tonnes of grapes, a 9% increase from the previous year. “Maintaining a competitive edge while meeting growing demand means embracing new solutions,” said Darryl Blackeby, Regional Sales Manager for sensor technology leader ifm. “Automation is the key to scaling up and staying ahead in such a dynamic industry.” Why automation matters While larger wineries are already adopting automation to meet rising demand, many smaller producers hesitate. They often hold back because of concerns about cost, downtime, and disruptions to their artisanal processes. “There’s a misconception that automation takes away the craft of winemaking,” Blackeby noted. “But the truth is, the right systems…

The Federal Government has underlined its support for Australian-Made metals in the face of Donald Trump’s tariffs by providing a new $750m boost to new technology in the sector. Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic, along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Climate Change and Energy the Hon Chris Bowen, released a joint statement to announce the funding, which will be directed towards metals development tech that aligns with Net Zero goals. As part of the $1.7bn Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund announced in the 2024/25 Budget, this new $750m in funding will accelerate innovation and enhance the development of new low-emissions technologies. It has the potential to enable commercial-scale production of green metals using Australian ores and renewable resources, paving the way for greater trade opportunities, more jobs, and reduced emissions. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), an independent body, will distribute the funds, which can be used to fund pilot and demonstration projects that can lower emissions, improve productivity, and revitalise plant and equipment. This marks the latest…