Corvus Opens Victorian Manufacturing Facility to Boost Sovereign Defence Capability
Corvus Technology Solutions has inaugurated a new advanced‑manufacturing facility in Victoria, Australia, marking the first locally produced Integrated System Unit (ISU) for defence. The plant, built in partnership with South Korean firms Hanwha and MNCS Korea, will also house production of the company’s UAV Launcher and the heavy‑payload electric EL10 Launcher, now moving toward commercial delivery. Corvus is simultaneously collaborating on the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle under the LAND 400 Phase 3 program, aligning with the state’s 2030 defence vision. The launch is expected to generate skilled jobs and strengthen Victoria’s sovereign defence supply chain.
MotorOne Strikes Exclusive Korean Partnership, Signalling Manufacturing Expansion in Automotive Aftermarket Tech
MotorOne, a Melbourne‑based automotive aftermarket group, has signed an exclusive partnership with South Korean dash‑cam manufacturer FINEDIGITAL. The deal will broaden MotorOne’s driver‑protection and mobility offerings throughout Australia, tapping rising demand for software‑enabled in‑vehicle technologies. FINEDIGITAL brings its FineVu dash‑cam...
Manufacturing at Risk as Australia’s Retread Tyre Sector Faces Steep Decline, TSA Report Finds
Australia’s retread tyre sector is losing ground, with market share halving from about 20% in 2017 to roughly 10% by 2025. The number of domestic facilities has collapsed from 61 in 2003 to 22 today, and existing plants run at...
Hazer Completes Graphite Pelletisation Program, Expands Potential Industrial Applications
Hazer Group Limited announced the completion of its graphite pelletisation program, confirming an optimal inert binder and successful third‑party agglomeration testing. The new process allows the material to be supplied as high‑performance pellets as well as powder, improving handling, transport...
Asahi Kasei Unveils New Photosensitive Polyimide Film for AI Chip Packaging
Asahi Kasei announced a new photosensitive polyimide (PSPI) film that blends its PIMEL liquid PSPI with SUNFORT dry film photoresist. The hybrid film is designed for panel‑level semiconductor packaging, allowing uniform lamination across large square panels. It is currently in...
Lockheed Martin, Partners Advance Australian Manufacturing with Warhead Test Completed in 11 Weeks
Lockheed Martin Australia, Northrop Grumman Australia and Thales Australia successfully detonated a co‑produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) warhead at a Bourke, NSW test range. The warhead was manufactured and tested within 11 weeks, demonstrating rapid, coordinated production capability....
UK-Australia Manufacturing Pilot Targets Faster AUKUS Submarine Sustainment
Babcock International and Truflo Marine have launched a UK‑Australia pilot to produce low‑complexity submarine valve components at Truflo’s Century Engineering facility in Adelaide, with engineering oversight, quality assurance and validation provided from the UK over an 18‑month period. The initiative...
New Manufacturing Research Investment Targets Aerospace, Medtech and Defence Under AMCRC Program
Australia’s Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) has approved five industry‑led CORE research projects, unlocking more than $11 million AUD (≈$7.3 million USD) in combined investment. The funding includes $1.95 million AUD (≈$1.3 million USD) from the Commonwealth, matched dollar‑for‑dollar by industry partners and supplemented by...
Australian-Made Materials Key to Housing Output, HIA Says
The Housing Industry Association’s chief Simon Croft highlighted Australian manufacturers as essential to the nation’s housing pipeline, especially amid a housing crisis and global supply disruptions. He pointed to regional factories in Oberon and Western Sydney that produce timber, trusses,...
90% of Manufacturers Consider Digital Transformation as Baseline Requirement – Global Survey
Rockwell Automation’s 11th State of Smart Manufacturing survey of 1,500 manufacturers across 17 countries shows that 90% now treat digital transformation as a baseline requirement. Executives have moved from debating technology to scaling smart capabilities, with nearly 60% using them...
Safer Storage Systems Expands Manufacturing Capability with New Pallet Racking Investment
Safer Storage Systems (SSS) has commissioned a 50‑metre upright roll former, boosting capacity for its Australian‑made Silverline pallet racking line. The equipment enhances flexibility to produce custom lengths, heights and profiles, aligning with the growing automation of warehouses. The upgrade...
Titomic Lands Lufthansa Technik Manufacturing Contract for Cold Spray Capability
Advanced manufacturing firm Titomic has secured a purchase order from Lufthansa Technik AG worth over AUD 1.2 million (≈ US$790,000). The deal adds low‑pressure Titomic Kinetic Fusion (TKF) cold‑spray systems to Lufthansa’s Hamburg facility, expanding a five‑year partnership. Delivery is slated for Q4 2026,...
1,000th Locally Manufactured Tunnel Segment Completed in Major SA Infrastructure Project
The South Australian Government announced the completion of the 1,000th locally manufactured precast tunnel segment for the River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project, a $15.4 billion (≈ $10.2 billion USD) investment. The Waterloo Corner facility will ultimately produce more than 55,000 segments, with...
US Industrial Output Retakes Ground in April – Federal Reserve
U.S. industrial production rebounded in April, climbing 0.7% after a 0.3% dip in March, according to Federal Reserve data. Manufacturing output rose 0.6% while utilities surged 1.9%, offsetting a modest 0.1% decline in mining. Overall output now sits at 102.5%...
Manufacturing Growth Accelerates as MYOB Research Points to Budget Support as Potential Catalyst
Australian SME manufacturers are outpacing peers, with 30% reporting revenue growth versus a 19% average across all small businesses, according to MYOB’s Business Monitor of over 1,000 firms. While confidence is high—one‑third expect profitability gains—the sector faces steep cost pressures,...
Hydrix, NIOA Sign Manufacturing Deal to Advance Australian Counter-Drone Defence Capability
Hydrix has secured a binding contract with NIOA Group to design, develop and integrate a telemetry‑capable inert proximity fuze and kinetic effector for small uncrewed aerial systems. The deal, valued at AUD 1‑1.2 million (approximately US$0.66‑0.79 million), will ramp up in May 2026...
Manufacturing Investment and Skills Measures Welcomed in Federal Budget, AFGC Says Amid Global Cost Concerns
The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) praised the latest Federal Budget for its investment incentives and skills‑development measures aimed at boosting manufacturing productivity. The budget earmarks support for new technology, innovation and workforce training, which the AFGC says will...
AI-Powered ERP Introduced for Australian Batch Manufacturing Sector
ECI Software Solutions has launched its Deacom ERP platform in Australia, targeting batch and process manufacturers in food, beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and specialty production. The AI‑enhanced system consolidates finance, production, inventory, quality and compliance into a single database, replacing spreadsheets...
South Australian Manufacturing Firm Enters US Naval Nuclear Supply Chain
South Australia's Century Engineering became the first Australian firm to win export contracts in the U.S. naval nuclear supply chain, supplying precision‑engineered cranks for aircraft carriers through HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding. The agreement follows the company’s qualification under the Australian...
Manufacturing Revenue and Profitability Slump as Global Conflict Pressures Sector, Report Says
Australian small‑and‑medium manufacturers saw revenue plunge 42% quarter‑on‑quarter to $356,000 AUD (≈$235,000 USD) in Q1 2026, while average gross margins slipped to 32.8%, the lowest since Unleashed began tracking in 2018. Inventory values fell 56% YoY to about $200,500 AUD (≈$132,000 USD) and raw‑material...
Manufacturing Automation’s ‘Blind Spot’ Remains at the Cut, Says Sandvik Coromant
Sandvik Coromant warns that manufacturing automation still lacks visibility at the cutting interface, even as factories adopt robotics and connected dashboards. The company promotes sensorized tooling—cutting tools equipped with force, vibration and chatter sensors—to deliver real‑time data that can trigger...
ARM Hub BioBriefing Spotlights Manufacturing Gap in Medtech Innovation
The ARM Hub BioBriefing in Brisbane highlighted a persistent gap between medtech research and scalable manufacturing in Australia. Industry leaders noted a policy shift toward urban manufacturing, positioning Queensland as a proving ground for on‑shore production. Speakers emphasized AI‑as‑a‑Service as...
AMGC Workshop to Guide Manufacturers on Export Growth at AMW 2026
The Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) will host a dedicated export‑focused workshop on 13 May 2026 during Australian Manufacturing Week in Brisbane. Titled “AMGC Connect: Starting your export journey with Export Finance Australia,” the session runs from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the...
Voltavate Launches Victorian R&D Site for Battery Manufacturing Push
Battery‑technology startup Voltavate has opened its Australian headquarters and R&D facility in Port Melbourne, marking a shift from laboratory‑scale work to pilot‑scale manufacturing of its proprietary separator technology. The new site will enable in‑line production of battery separators and independent...
Manufacturing Gap in Voltage Management Leaves Aussies $1.4B Out of Pocket, Says EcoJoule Energy
EcoJoule Energy warns that under‑investment in distribution‑level voltage management is costing Australian consumers roughly $1.4 billion AUD (about $0.9 billion USD) each year – $726 million USD in lost savings and $209 million USD in appliance damage. A nationwide Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) program...
Australian-First Critical Minerals Facility Opens in Sydney
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has opened a new critical minerals processing facility at its Lucas Heights site, marking the first such plant in the country. The complex adds capabilities for extracting clay‑hosted rare earth elements and...
Manufacturing, Energy Security in Focus as Australian Gov’t Unveils Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme
The Australian government unveiled a domestic gas reservation scheme that will require exporters to set aside 20% of their LNG output for the local market beginning 1 July 2027. The policy aims to curb domestic gas prices, reduce exposure to global price...
WA Budget Boosts Manufacturing, Energy Transition and Industrial Investment
The Western Australian 2026‑27 budget earmarks billions of dollars to accelerate manufacturing, renewable‑energy integration and broader industrial diversification. Key allocations include a AUD $1.4 bn Clean Energy Future Fund (≈US $920 m) and AUD $973 m (≈US $642 m) for Western Power’s grid upgrades. The Made in WA...
Seven NSW Manufacturers to Feature at Australian Manufacturing Week 2026
Seven New South Wales manufacturers will exhibit at Australian Manufacturing Week 2026 in Brisbane from May 12‑14, supported by a dedicated NSW Government stand. The showcase aims to connect the firms with customers, investors and supply‑chain partners while promoting the...
Victoria Backs New Gas Project Amid Manufacturing Energy Security Concerns
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed approval of the offshore Otway Basin gas project “Annie,” led by Amplitude Energy, as a step toward bolstering Victoria’s energy security. The state faces projected peak‑day gas shortfalls as Bass Strait output...
AMTIL Outlines Manufacturing Pressures Reshaping APAC Industry in 2026
AMTIL’s 2026 APAC manufacturing outlook warns that rising digital expectations, energy volatility, and labour constraints are reshaping the sector. Manufacturers are shifting investment toward higher‑value production and adopting simulation‑first design, virtual twins, and AI‑driven automation to boost efficiency. Energy uncertainty...
Manufacturing Sector Warns State NCC Variations Are Increasing Building Industry Complexity, Says BPIC
Australia’s building and manufacturing sectors face rising compliance costs as state and territory variations to the National Construction Code (NCC) proliferate, according to the Building Products Industry Council (BPIC). Tasmania has introduced 125 new NCC 2025 variations on top of...
Australia’s Green Heavy Industry Push Hinges on Scaling Challenge, Monash and UNSW Analysis Finds
Australian researchers from Monash University and UNSW Sydney say the nation can decarbonise its heavy‑industry sector and become a low‑emissions exporter, but the real obstacle is scaling coordinated industrial hubs rather than technology itself. Advances such as green hydrogen and...
Manufacturing Breakthrough Uses Sound Waves to Create ‘Plant Sunscreen’
RMIT University researchers have created an ultrasonic manufacturing technique that forms UV‑blocking coatings on delicate surfaces, including living plant leaves, using high‑frequency sound waves to atomise a covalent organic framework (COF) liquid into a fine mist. The mist self‑assembles into...
Australian Manufacturing Week 2026 Enters Final Run-Up to Brisbane Debut
Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) 2026 will debut in Queensland, taking place at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 12‑14. The three‑day trade show, run by the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited, will feature dedicated zones for machine tools,...
Qld Manufacturing Supports Regional Firefighting Push with New Mobile Suppression Tech
Bundamba‑based TRHC is expanding its fire‑suppression portfolio for regional Australian brigades, delivering its SNUFIT and trailer‑mounted CAFAID systems to Queensland and South Australia. The company has already installed several units on firefighting vehicles and supplied three CAFAID units to the...
Manufacturing Consolidation and Automation Could Help Australia’s Food Supply Chain Withstand Mounting Pressures, Dematic Says
Australia’s food and beverage supply chain is under a "perfect storm" of fuel price volatility, fertilizer shortages, and shifting consumer buying habits, according to warehouse‑automation specialist Dematic. The company warns that distribution centres are being stretched as multiple pressures converge,...
Boral Partners with Dexus to Build Major Logistics Hub in Ravenhall
Boral has teamed with property group Dexus to develop the Ravenhall Logistics Precinct, slated to become one of Australia’s largest industrial projects. The 630‑hectare site near Melbourne will be converted into up to 2.5 million sqm of warehousing with direct freeway and...
Manufacturing Breakthrough: Wool-Based 3D Printing Filament Launches in New Zealand
Wool Source and KiwiFil have launched WoolyFil, a world‑first 3D‑printing filament coloured with pigments derived from New Zealand wool. The patented process turns wool fibre into fine, coloured particles that replace synthetic, fossil‑fuel pigments. The filament, currently offered in Green...
Neumann Steel Breaks Ground on New Yarrabilba Manufacturing Facility
Neumann Steel has broken ground on a new 4,340‑square‑metre manufacturing plant in Yarrabilba, Queensland, part of a 12,100‑square‑metre industrial site. The facility, built with partners Stockland and Rycon Constructions, will boost the company’s regional production capacity and shorten delivery distances...
Manufacturing Investment Falls Short for Victoria’s South-East, Says GSEM
The Greater South East Melbourne Council Alliance (GSEM) says the 2026‑27 Victorian Budget falls short of what the south‑east manufacturing hub needs. While the budget earmarks roughly AUD 20 million (about US$13 million) for food‑manufacturing electrification and gas‑appliance diversification, GSEM is pushing for...
Global Manufacturing Sees Growth in April but Momentum May Be Short-Lived – JP Morgan
The J.P. Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI jumped to 52.6 in April, the strongest reading since March 2022, and marked the ninth straight month above the 50‑point growth threshold. Four of the five PMI components – new orders, output, inventories and supplier...
TGA Updates Australian Manufacturing Licences with New Approvals and Regulatory Actions
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released its latest licensing decisions, granting 14 new manufacturing licences for therapeutic goods while suspending two and revoking eight existing licences. The approvals cover a diverse set of entities, including pharmaceutical firms, biotech innovators, logistics...
Austal Secures $150M Contract to Build Two Additional Patrol Boats for Border Force
Austal Limited secured a contract extension worth approximately A$150.3 million (about $99 million USD) to build two additional Evolved Cape‑class patrol boats for the Australian Border Force. The award brings the total number of ECCPBs ordered for the Border Force to six,...
Agriculture and Manufacturing Call for National Ethanol and Biodiesel Mandate
Agriculture and manufacturing bodies representing more than 150,000 farms and 16 sugar plants have urged the Australian government to impose an immediate national ethanol and biodiesel mandate. They argue the policy would expand domestic low‑carbon fuel production, improve fuel security...
GME Advances Manufacturing Capability with New Agricultural Communication System
GME has launched the XRS-375CTR Tractor Pack, a UHF CB radio system engineered and built in Australia for the agricultural sector. The pack pairs the XRS-375C radio with a flexible AE4202 antenna and includes mounting adapters for tractors, utility vehicles,...
Infios Launches New AI Capabilities Focused on Supply Chain Workflows
Infios unveiled a suite of AI agents that embed directly into supply‑chain workflows, spanning order management, warehousing and transportation. The agents automate tasks such as driver check‑calls, document parsing and inventory research, while dynamically rerouting shipments when disruptions occur. Customers...
Australia–Japan Deal Targets Manufacturing Growth Through Critical Minerals Cooperation
Australia and Japan announced a deepened critical‑minerals partnership during a Canberra summit, earmarking up to $1.3 bn (about $860 m USD) in financing for joint projects. The deal expands the 2022 partnership, targeting on‑shore processing of gallium, nickel, graphite, rare earths and...
A.H. Beard Enters Voluntary Administration as Manufacturing Sector Faces Mounting Pressure
A.H. Beard, a fifth‑generation Australian mattress maker with more than 125 years of history, has entered voluntary administration. The move highlights mounting cost pressures and fierce import competition that are straining the broader Australian manufacturing sector. The Australian Made Campaign...
Northrop Grumman, Australia Move Toward Sovereign Rocket Motor Manufacturing Capability
Northrop Grumman has been chosen by the Australian government for structured engagement to develop a sovereign solid‑rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing capability. The partnership will involve detailed discussions with government and industry to define requirements, production pathways, and integrate Australian suppliers...