Industry News

**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 strong, resilient manufacturing sector is vital to our economic future – one that creates jobs, drives innovation, and secures opportunities for all Victorians During Australian Manufacturing Week in May, I was struck by the breadth and strength of Victorian manufacturing expertise on display. Victoria is the home of Australian manufacturing and the leading manufacturing state, with a sector worth $36.9 billion and generating $25.6 billion in exports. Behind every dollar are skilled Victorian workers and local businesses – the engine room of our communities and economy. Behind every worker is a family, and we are on their side. The enduring strength of our sector is fuelled by ideas, innovation, and ambition and driven by more than 274,000 workers. In an era of rapid change and shifting global dynamics, there’s never been a more important time to keep pushing forward – opening secure, well-paid careers for Victorians. The Victorian Industry Policy sets out a new direction for Victorian industry, backed by the Allan Labor government.…

Australian manufacturing could be at the start of a positive trend, according to new data, a Commonwealth Bank economist says. Speaking in late October, CBA Energy and Sustainable Economist John Oh told a group of manufacturers that recent Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) surveys, produced by S&P Global Ratings, were indicating an encouraging trend among manufacturers. With any number over 50 indicating positive sentiment, the Manufacturing PMI hit 53.0 in August and was at 51.6 in November – indicating that conditions in the manufacturing sector are improving. Oh says this upward trend coincides with a rise in new orders for both domestic and export markets, along with rising job vacancies and an increase in manufacturing capital expenditure, specifically in buildings and structures. “A combination of all that data points to the idea that we may be at the beginning of a pickup cycle in manufacturing,” he says. “Now it is just an indicator, but what this data suggests is that perhaps likely that…

Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) 2026 is more than an exhibition. It is a celebration of the technologies, solutions and expertise shaping the future of manufacturing. Across six dedicated product zones, visitors will experience the full spectrum of innovation powering the industry today. Machine Tools Zone Precision meets performance in the Machine Tools Zone. Explore advanced CNC machinery, lathes, mills and cutting-edge tooling solutions. From forming and fabricating machines to plasma, laser, waterjet and ultrasonic technologies, this zone is a must-see for anyone in metalworking and machining. Additive Manufacturing Zone Step into the world of 3D printing and discover how additive manufacturing is transforming production. With applications spanning from large-scale construction to nanotechnology, this zone highlights breakthroughs in precision, repeatability and material diversity, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Australian Manufacturers’ Pavilion Celebrate homegrown excellence in the Australian Manufacturers’ Pavilion. Here, you will meet some of the country’s most accomplished component manufacturers, precision engineers, toolmakers and advanced manufacturing firms. It is…

First established in 1995, the company employs some 550 personnel in four Western Australian locations, while also expanding across Australia and into export markets including in Papua New Guinea. With its head office located in Canning Vale and engineering facilities also in Belmont, Welshpool and Karratha WA, Camco provides high level engineering services in mining, power generation, oil and gas, energy, transport and rail along with general engineering work. Group operations manager Matt Casley says the company’s work is “strong and expanding” in all the markets where it operates. The company is about to build a 4,000 square metre heavy lifting facility with one 150 tonne overhead lifting crane along with other smaller lifting cranes. A new storage facility is also being built. Camco Engineering is also fully accredited to a number of international certifications including ISO9001, ISO45001, DNV CP-0352. “Such are the engineering capabilities of our staff that we have a policy of never turning away a job no matter how challenging,” he says. “We…

Two months in, the response to an advertising campaign designed to attract a new generation to Australia’s manufacturing sector is showing encouraging results. Rolled out across Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, the three-month Make It ManuFACTuring campaign uses television, radio, digital and social media and outdoor advertising to challenge outdated stereotypes and highlight real career opportunities in manufacturing. Since its launch in early September, the campaign’s digital ads have reached over 9 million people, with 72,000 visits to the campaign’s dedicated website, makeitmanufacturing.com.au. Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance chief executive Sharon Robertson says the Alliance is “thrilled” with the results so far. “The campaign is running across eleven platforms, from Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube to LinkedIn, Spotify and digital billboards, reaching young people, parents and teachers where they are,” she says. “Three out of four people who start our profiling quiz finish it; proof young Australians are actually connecting with the message.” Robertson adds that the campaign’s radio stories ran three times longer than the industry standard, saying so far, they have reached more…

A new report from the Australian Industry Group (AIGroup) says, “Metals and machinery and equipment grew strongly since the pandemic but have seen some of this growth ease in 2024 with more difficult economic conditions.” According to the Manufacturing in Australia: Performance and Outlook Report 2025, produced by the AIGroup in July, manufacturer margins have been improving over the last decade in Australia, to return to near the all-industry level, “reflecting the consolidation toward more competitive subindustries.” The report says that manufacturing is the only industrial sector to see a material improvement in business margins, with others still near long-term levels. It said post-pandemic growth saw manufacturer margins improve from 10% to 12% and now exceed the all-industry rate for the first time since 2007. Investment levels in Australian manufacturing have also improved, with the report showing levels rose significantly following the pandemic, but growth levelled off in 2024. “Industrial capex levels leaped following the…

Peter Sutton was appointed President, after Paul Philips stepped down, and Phil Bowles was named Vice President. AMTIL CEO Lorraine Maxwell said: “With a history of board membership, a keen understanding of the challenges facing members, and a vision to see AMTIL continue to grow, both Peter and Phil are well equipped to lead our organisation.” “When Paul took the role, it was with the intentions of serving for one year and I want to thank Paul for his support and efforts throughout this very successful year.” Maxwell extended sincere thanks, on behalf of AMTIL members, to Brigitte Stavar, Mark Dobrich, and Pat Green who exited the board at last week’s AGM, after many years of service and leadership. While they will no longer participate on the board, we look forward to their ongoing involvement in AMTIL. An additional congratulations to Mark Dobrich who was awarded Life Membership of AMTIL at the meeting. At the AGM, Peter Sutton, Johanna Boland, Phil Bowles, and Paul Philips were all re-elected for an additional two-year term. The AMTIL Board now has…

Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW), hosted by AMTIL, will be held in Brisbane for the first time in 2026. As the nation’s premier showcase for advanced manufacturing, AMW brings together the latest technologies, processes and ideas shaping the future of Australian industry. Running from Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 May, AMW 2026 will feature a wide range of precision engineering and smart manufacturing solutions. The exhibition will highlight technologies including CNC machining, robotics, additive manufacturing, software, and more. It is designed to connect professionals, promote innovation and support industry growth. The event will include six dedicated product zones: Machine Tools, Additive Manufacturing, Robotics and Automation, Welding and Air Technology, the Australian Manufacturers’ Pavilion, and Manufacturing Solutions. A comprehensive speaker program will run alongside the exhibition, offering insights into emerging technologies, industry trends and practical strategies for business development. “Manufacturing is evolving rapidly across Australia, and Queensland is no exception,” said Lorraine Maxwell, CEO of AMTIL. “Queensland is home to a growing number of innovative manufacturers. AMW 2026 will highlight the strength of this local industry while…

Marrickville-based packaging machinery manufacturer Packserv has won the Best Small Business Award at the Australian Manufacturing Awards. The company designs and builds machines for volumetric filling, capping and container handling functions including conveyors in-feed and out-feed tables. Packserv also specialises in providing rentals for on-demand packaging equipment for filling, capping, labelling, printing and sealing packages of fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The company was one of a series of winners of the awards, organised by manufacturing magazine Industry Update, named last night at a gala event in Sydney. The AMTIL Advanced Manufacturing Award was won by Queensland-based textile recovery technology developer BlockTexx among a solid field of nominees, including Industrial Machinery Sales and PPC Moulding Services. Victorian crane manufacturer Eilbeck Cranes picked up the St George Bank Manufacturer of the Year prize, while Dave Vinther of Australian playground equipment manufacturer Moduplay won the individual Gold Award for Excellence in Manufacturing, sponsored by Investment NSW. John Notaras of Atom Industries received with the Lifetime Acheivement Award for his decades of service to the industry. Industry Update publisher Scott Filby said…

Bringing together 13 Australian universities, CSIRO and over 60 industry and membership organisations, Australia’s new Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre was officially launched yesterday. Established with $57.5 million in Commonwealth Government funding from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the AMCRC aims to help industry unlock the potential of additive manufacturing, helping to fast-track products to commercialisation and building sovereign capability. The AMCRC partner base expects to invest an additional $200 million in the organisation over the next seven years to help develop a world-class additive manufacturing ecosystem that enhances industry capacity across the country. AMCRC chair Susan Jeanes says the AMCRC represents a unique opportunity for Australia to position itself as a global leader in the sector. “By uniting industry, researchers and government behind a shared agenda, we will drive research, fast-track commercialisation, and build sovereign capability - delivering new materials, technologies and production solutions that improve productivity, efficiency and local capacity,” she says. The official launch was held in partnership with Boeing Aerostructures Australia – a major contributor to the CRC…

Automation has helped to open doors for women to move into manufacturing roles, according to new research prepared by the Australian Industry Group (AIGroup). AIGroup measured the number of hours worked by women in various industries using newly available microdata from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The research found that while industrial sectors such as manufacturing, mining and construction had the lowest share of hours worked by women, they were also leading the national effort in closing the gap. AIGroup research manager Colleen Dowling writes in a research note that most industrial sectors had seen an increase in the proportion of hours worked by women in the last 20 years. The number of hours worked by women in manufacturing rose from 21.2% in 2006 to 25.2% in 2025, as did those in mining, from 12.6% to 17.7%, and construction – from 7.8% to 11%. Dowling writes that little had changed in industries where most hours are worked by women, such as healthcare and social work, where about 75% of hours are…

Federal Industry minister Tim Ayres has announced up to $600 million will be invested over three years to sustain Glencore’s Mount Isa Copper Smelter and Townsville Refinery in Queensland, while work on an $80 million investment program to upgrade the Nyrstar’s Port Pirie multi-metals facility in South Australia has also begun. Funded jointly by the Australian and Queensland Governments, the Mount Isa and Townsville package will see three tranches of $200 million delivered over the next three years – dependent on facility owner Glencore completing a transformation study focusing on driving sustainable and long-term industrial capability in Mount Isa. “It will evaluate the end-to-end copper value chain in the region and seek to understand the long-term opportunity for the facilities, industry and Mount Isa workers beyond the support period, positioning the region for a more diverse and resilient future,” a joint government announcement says. Governments have identified maintaining Australia’s domestic metals processing capability as “fundamental” to Australian economic resilience, and the Mount Isa Copper Smelter provides…