Industry News

Cobot welding is a game-changer for the manufacturing industry. A flexible solution that can be tailored to the needs of individual firms, it delivers numerous benefits, including increased productivity, quality control, cost efficiency, scalability, real-time monitoring, and an enhanced working environment. Cobot welders automate the welding process and work alongside humans to perform welding tasks. Cobot welders can help boost production output by working continuously with minimal maintenance and without the need for breaks. They can handle repetitive tasks quickly and more intricate work efficiently, improving productivity. Plus, requiring minimal oversight and monitoring, they can free up workers to focus on more complex or higher-value tasks. “Cobots have the capability to run 24/7 and to also work in automated cycles,” says Stuart Orr, Sales Director, Kemppi Australia.  “As a result, they can enhance manufacturing processes and deliver significant productivity benefits.” Consistent welding quality Cobot welding systems also precisely control welding parameters such as temperature, pressure, and so on. This results in more uniform welds while minimising the potential for variation in quality. Kemppi, a leading global welding manufacturer, has an…

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…

Westlab has a strong focus on modular, scalable, and technically advanced systems, maintaining a long-standing relationship with Capral, Australia's largest extruder and distributor of aluminium products. The company prides itself on responsibly sourcing locally extruded aluminium for its products, continually pushing the boundaries of design and functionality in everything it undertakes. Recent innovations from the Westlab team, such as the Modulab© Connect System, provide flexible and high-performance solutions for scientific, pharmaceutical, and educational applications. “We’re always looking to improve and standardise our systems globally,” said Russell Grace, Director at Westlab. “Our Modulab Connect System has customised all the profiles to facilitate adaptability, ensuring high performance and compliance with rigorous industry standards, including PC2 and PC3 certification for biocontainment laboratories.” Aluminium is one of the key materials used in the construction of Westlab’s laboratory and furniture products. It offers numerous advantages, such as strength, lightweight properties, high-quality finishes, and formability. This versatility enables the creation of custom fastening and construction systems. Capral extrudes a variety of custom aluminium profiles for Westlab, enhancing the efficient solutions…

In an opportunity to take the pulse of the industry and refine AMTIL’s strategic planning, AMTIL has conducted policy roundtables across Australia. We were delighted to have hosted ~15% of the C-suite AMTIL membership using the boardroom table format, and members provided valuable insight into their lived experience and brought forward their top issues for discussion. Five roundtables were conducted, one in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane, supported by William Buck. The top three issues—skills shortages, safety, and climate reporting—have been woven into the new AMTIL Strategic Plan 2024 – 2026 (The Plan). Based on this important information, AMTIL has set a new work plan for the New Year, which will include a few new offerings. AMTIL’s principle activities, to promote and support the manufacturing technology industry in Australia are to: provide industry resources, services and platforms, and proactively and reactively advocate to governments on policies relating to the manufacturing technology industry. While our vision and mission remain steadfast, The…

Capral has successfully trialled the recycled-content billet supplied by Rio Tinto at Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), using 50 to 100 tonnes of post-production aluminium scrap from its Bremer Park extrusion plant in Southeast Queensland. The scrap was remelted and cast into billets, resulting in a new product with a minimum of 20% recycled content. This creates a new era of environmentally conscious local aluminium production. Capral is exploring options for incorporating this sustainable material into its product offer. This closed-loop approach not only minimises waste but also reduces carbon intensity of extrusions produced from such billets. This trial has successfully demonstrated the potential of a Made in Australia closed loop aluminium solution, in line with the Australian Government’s Future Made in Australia policy. The entire production process has been done entirely in Australia, from raw materials of bauxite and alumina to primary aluminium production, to Capral’s extrusion process, to Rio Tinto’s remelting of scrap into finished recycled billet product. "Whilst Capral recycles the vast majority of our scrap, it must be sent offshore for processing and typically ends up in…

eLumina has officially opened Australia’s first factory capable of producing community lithium batteries and EV chargers, with the first model set off the production line in 2025. The new $20m Manufacturing and Development Centre on the Gold Coast will strengthen Australia’s energy storage sector and help meet global battery demand. The factory will produce 300 batteries and EV chargers a year and support up to 300 jobs on the Gold Coast. eLumina's CEO, Lisa Marsh, said, “We are extremely proud to officially open our factory here in Yatala on the Gold Coast. We are ambitious about supporting 300 highly technical and sought-after jobs, and we’re proud to partner with TAFE Queensland to support the training and pathways into these jobs.” Importantly, these jobs will be critical in shaping Australia’s tech and energy future. Tech Council of Australia CEO Damian Kassabgi said, “Queensland, particularly on the Gold Coast, is emerging as a tech hotspot and a manufacturing hub. Our goal is to have 1.2 million tech workers in Australia…

FPR Energy, a new venture from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has secured $15m in seed funding to commercialise next-generation solar thermal technology to help reduce industrial emissions, accounting for 20% of Australia’s annual carbon footprint. The company was launched today with global advisory and funds management firm RFC Ambrian and utility leader Osaka Gas, raising the most extensive seed funding for a CSIRO co-founded venture. FPR Energy aims to cut emissions in heavy industries such as mineral refining, steel, cement, and chemical production using CSIRO’s particle-based Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology, which can produce temperatures up to 1200 degrees Celsius—an industry-first. The technology uses abundant and low-cost ceramic particles to store sunlight as heat, enabling long-duration energy storage to support industrial processes, green fuel production and reliable, dispatchable power. CSIRO Energy Technologies Research Director Dr. Daniel Roberts said FPR Energy is a significant step in meeting the growing demand for renewable solutions in hard-to-abate heavy industries. “FPR Energy is building on years of solar thermal research, demonstrating CSIRO’s commitment to supporting emissions reduction using impact-focussed science and…

The renewable energy and clean technology industries are at the forefront of the global transition to sustainable energy systems. Solar farms, wind turbines, battery storage solutions, and emerging innovations in energy optimisation are reshaping Australia’s energy landscape. Yet, the sector’s rapid growth comes with unique challenges. To remain competitive, companies in this space must manage complex project portfolios, meet stringent environmental and regulatory requirements, and integrate cutting-edge technologies. Achieving these goals requires more than innovation—it demands operational excellence powered by advanced systems. NetSuite, with its cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities, is enabling renewable energy businesses to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and position themselves as leaders in sustainability. Managing complexity in renewable energy The renewable energy industry is defined by its complexity. Companies often manage diverse projects across multiple locations, each with unique financial, operational, and regulatory demands. Coordinating resources, tracking project progress, and ensuring profitability require a unified approach. At the same time, compliance pressures are mounting. Renewable energy companies must adhere to international standards such as ISO 14001 for environmental management and local requirements like the Australian Privacy Act…

Howard Smith Wharves by Artemus Group took another step toward its goal of becoming the most sustainable precinct in the world this month by installing 179kW of rooftop solar panels. After engaging Origin Zero, Howard Smith Wharves commissioned an energy audit and kitchen electrification study in its ambitious quest to reduce emissions by 44% by June 2026, compared to 2022 levels. It has already diverted 97% of its waste from landfill, with this energy audit another avenue to reduce emissions and support its sustainability mission. Following the audit, Origin Zero proposed the rooftop solar and power factor correction (an adjustment of the power supply systems to enhance efficiency) to achieve immediate supply-side emissions savings of 7.2% across the precinct’s restaurants, cafes, bars, event spaces, hotel and brewery. Luke Fraser, CEO of Artemus Group, says that sustainability is his top priority. “These two quick and simple solutions drastically reduce our emissions, so we jumped at the opportunity. We aim to become the most sustainable precinct in the world, and we’re proud to continue to partner with industry leaders…

US President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on all steel imports on Sunday as he flew to New Orleans on Air Force One. As an afterthought, when asked about aluminium, he responded, “aluminium, too.” While there are ways to interpret the differences between what he is ‘poised to announce’ and what he says, any move that goes ahead would be bad for Australia. If the move goes ahead, it will likely harm Australia. According to the UN's COMTRADE database, the US imported about $638m of Australian steel and $439m of aluminium last year. Trump also reaffirmed that he would announce “reciprocal tariffs” —”probably Tuesday or Wednesday”—meaning the US will impose import duties on products when another country levies duties on American goods. The Australian stock market opened with a slump after the announcement. President Trump said he would formally announce the fresh trade war slug on Monday and that the taxes would hit “everybody,” suggesting Australia will not be exempt from the new trade war slug. "A tariff on Australian goods, despite us having a long-standing free trade agreement with…

Established in Mordialloc, Victoria, Lepol Metal has been a cornerstone supplier for the construction industry for over 45 years. Lepol specialises in offsite steel manufacturing, metal work, piping systems, stainless services, prefabrication, and on-site support for the mechanical services industry. Their commitment to delivering efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality customised solutions has streamlined construction processes across various commercial, industrial, and critical infrastructure sectors. Navigating operational challenges But given the pace of their growth, the difficulties of expanding a skilled workforce, and the industry's ever-increasing demands for more consistent, high-quality welds within shorter time frames, Lepol began a search for an innovative solution that would satisfy these market demands while operating within a limited physical footprint. Enhancing Lepol’s mechanical service capabilities, particularly in pipe welding, required evaluating several options. Lepol Metal chose the Spool Welding Robot (SWR) from Novarc Technologies. Its compact design allowed for tremendous spatial flexibility. The SWR's ability to consistently deliver high-quality welds resulted in a sizable increase in welding efficiency. The SWR’s seamless integration into Lepol’s operations marked a transformative step towards heightened productivity and efficiency. Quantifiable results “Integrating Novarc’s…

Brad Jones Racing (BJR) is among the most respected teams in the Supercars Championship, Australia’s premier touring car racing series. Based in Albury, NSW, BJR was founded by brothers Brad and Kim Jones. They successfully competed in various racing series throughout the 1990s before entering the Supercars championship in 2000. Supercars is known for its high-intensity races and technical demands. In 2023, it introduced its current Generation 3 Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs. These purpose-built race cars require thousands of bespoke parts and retain very little of their production models. Running a four-car team in this elite series, as BJR does, is a monumental challenge and requires over 50 full-time staff. Managing four cars means preparing, maintaining, and sometimes wholly rebuilding them between race meetings, which requires extraordinary resources and precision. Running one car for the entire season will cost BJR around $2m if all goes well. The immense fabrication and engineering effort behind the scenes at BJR is critical to its…

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…