
Australia’s manufacturing PMI slipped to 51.0 in February, the fourth consecutive month above the growth threshold but the weakest since the expansion began. The index fell from 52.3 in January, marking the first output contraction in four months. New‑order growth slowed, particularly from overseas, while firms adopted a cautious inventory stance. Despite softer momentum, manufacturers expect modest output growth in the coming months.

Advanced Navigation has introduced Chimera Land, a 3D laser velocity sensor system that delivers high‑precision vehicle positioning in deep underground mines where GPS signals are unavailable. The self‑contained solution integrates with the company’s Boreas D90 inertial navigation system and AdNav Intelligence...

Manufacturers in Victoria are confronting steep land‑tax hikes, with SEMMA reporting an average 80% increase between 2024 and 2026 and spikes above 200% for some firms. The surge is diverting cash that would otherwise fund new machinery, apprenticeships and process...

SPC Global Holdings Ltd announced a post‑merger overhaul of its manufacturing network, slashing planned capital expenditure from $23.5 million to just under $3 million. The new strategy targets more than $8 million of annual savings from FY27 and includes exiting the Mill Park...

The Australian Submarine Agency announced that the UK‑built HMS Anson has arrived at HMAS Stirling for the first ever UK Submarine Maintenance Period (UK SMP) conducted in Australia. Around 100 personnel from the Royal Navy, the UK Submarine Delivery Agency,...

The Australian Government has allocated $6.9 million through its Industry Growth Program to accelerate manufacturing‑focused innovation. Spark3D will receive $4.8 million to commercialise the Achyon semiconductor packaging tool, while Kardinia Energy secures $2.1 million to launch a pilot printed‑solar production line. Both projects...

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has launched the Powering the Regions Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS), a $400 million fund to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions from regional industrial facilities. The program, part of the broader Powering the Regions Fund, supports projects that...

CSIRO has teamed with the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) Connect to launch "Innovate to Grow: Advanced Manufacturing," a free eight‑week online program aimed at Australian SMEs. The initiative blends self‑paced learning, expert coaching and peer discussion to help firms...

The first Australian‑made AS9 Huntsman self‑propelled howitzers have rolled off the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Geelong, marking the next phase of the LAND 8116 programme. The debut follows an earlier batch built in South Korea and initiates...

La Trobe University, together with Breakthrough Victoria’s Eagle Fund, has moved its YieldX hydroponic system from lab to commercial scale. The technology now runs in a 4,000‑square‑metre greenhouse at Butler Market Gardens, capable of producing up to one million basil...

The New South Wales government has allocated more than $1 million to 22 early‑stage companies through the first round of the 2025‑26 MVP Ventures Program. The grants target priority sectors such as housing, manufacturing, energy, health and digital technologies, helping firms...

Kennametal has launched a global "Machinist of the Year" program to honor long‑term customers who excel in machining. Regional marketing teams in the Americas, EMEA, APAC and India will each select a winner based on video submissions that showcase tool...

La Force International (LFI) has launched LFI Asia Pacific Pty Ltd in Newcastle, marking its first overseas entity outside the United States. The new hub will serve Australia, Singapore and the broader Asia‑Pacific market, targeting mining, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and...

Australian firm Nutrafruit is converting bruised or sun‑burnt Queen Garnet plums—fruit that fails supermarket standards—into health‑focused powders, drinks and other nutraceuticals under its PurQ brand. The plums are freeze‑dried to lock in colour, flavour and antioxidant content, turning waste into...

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has launched DIAVAULT, an industrial‑grade edge data centre platform that integrates power, cooling and AI compute for on‑premise processing. The solution targets low‑latency, secure workloads in manufacturing, defense and 5G environments, addressing data‑privacy and latency concerns of...