Open IIoT podcast ‘Industry 4.0 and Beyond’ unpacks government grants ahead of AMW2023 exhibition
The Open IIoT group – a cohort of Australia’s most prominent automation brands – has been hard at work since their last showing at Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) Melbourne in 2019. Most notably they have launched the ‘Industry 4.0 and Beyond’ Podcast, featuring the group’s signature style of ‘cutting through the jargon’ as they discuss the latest trends in IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and advanced manufacturing.
The podcast releases episodes monthly and features Jozef Ceh of SMC Corporation ANZ and Wade Leslie of KUKA Robot Automation as hosts. Representatives from Open IIoT member companies (Beckhoff Automation, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS, Balluff, and ZI-Argus) appear as member guests.
To ensure a diverse range of perspectives and expert industry insights, the members are regularly joined by partners and industry experts from a multitude of manufacturing sectors, as they discuss new technologies and the unique challenges and benefits of Industry 4.0 implementation.
Episodes to date approach a diverse range of topics, including how Industry 4.0 can help Australia get back on track to meet its recycling goals; the role of IIoT in creating ‘smart’ buildings; the key to unlocking maximum value from Industry 4.0 and understanding programmable logic controllers (PLCs), among others.
Visitors to AMW Melbourne 2023 and Open IIoT’s Stand RA54 may find particular value in listening to Episode 5- ‘Australian Manufacturing Government Grants Unpacked’, featuring AMTIL CEO Shane Infanti as a guest alongside KUKA’s Wade Leslie and Jim Wallace of Balluff Australia. It tackles a dilemma facing many local manufacturers: a strong desire to ramp up manufacturing through digital transformation but without the capital needed to make the initial investment.
The good news is, as Shane explains in the episode, there are a wealth of resources available to support funding – manufacturers just need to know where to look. In the space of just 20 information-packed minutes, he details the practicalities of Government grants – what they are, who qualifies, and how to apply. This resource is essential as Jim Wallace from Balluff comments, “Government investment in manufacturing is just as crucial as the need for investment in transportation or infrastructure – it helps move Australia forward.”
Shane shares that Federal and State Government support for manufacturers comes in a number of different forms, including mandating locally produced products in their procurement process, such as 50-60% of all equipment procured for the Government’s planned $40 billion investment in the defence industry, over the next 15 years.
Support also comes in the form of traditional monetary grants and incentives for local manufacturers. “These grants allow manufacturers to invest in and harness new technologies to their maximum potential, accelerating both the industry and the economy at large,” he adds.
AMTIL serves as a facilitator and connector for manufacturers looking to receive Government support, running regular workshops and the flagship event AMW every year in Melbourne. AMW allows groups like Open IIoT to come face-to-face with manufacturers looking for a roadmap on how to get the ball rolling on Industry 4.0 implementation, with Government grants as a key part of this process.
“We look forward to this opportunity to discuss the latest technologies and the support available to help local manufacturers access key resources and implement them within their own factory at AMW Melbourne in May,” Jim concludes.