Manufacturing Breakthrough Dives Deep with Australia’s First Underwater 3D Printing System
Australian firm LUYTEN 3D, together with the University of Wollongong, unveiled Australia’s first submerged 3D concrete printing system and an accelerator‑free underwater concrete mix. The single‑mix formulation remains stable under water, removing the need for chemical accelerators that traditional marine construction relies on. By integrating material rheology, robotic control and deployment architecture, the system can extrude concrete structures directly on‑site beneath the surface. The technology is now moving from lab validation to controlled demonstrations for defence, ports and offshore energy projects.
Advanced Manufacturing in SA Supports Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle Production
REDARC Defence & Space will produce the electronic control and power‑distribution units for the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle at its Lonsdale, South Australia plant, under the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 3 programme. The partnership with Hanwha Defence Australia positions REDARC...
NSW Opens Manufacturing Co-Exhibiting Opportunities for Australian Manufacturing Week 2026
The New South Wales government will showcase state manufacturers at Australian Manufacturing Week 2026, held 12‑14 May in Brisbane. It is offering up to seven co‑exhibiting slots on its stand, each costing AUD 500 (≈US $330) per company, with travel and lodging left...
Rethinking Australia’s Sovereign Manufacturing
Australia’s manufacturing sector has shrunk from 19% of GDP in the 1980s to under 5% today, prompting calls for a sovereign manufacturing push. Industry leaders argue that rebuilding on‑shore capacity is less about patriotism and more about resilience, especially as...
Industry Invited to View CDE Sand Processing Facility at PF Formation Site
CDE and PF Formation will host an industry open day on 30 April at the sand‑washing plant in Maroota, showcasing a high‑efficiency facility that processes up to 400 tonnes per hour. Over the past year the plant produced more than...
UNSW Develops AI-Driven Method to Speed up Semiconductor Material Discovery
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have unveiled an AI‑assisted workflow that reverses traditional material design by starting from performance targets and then identifying suitable hybrid perovskite molecules. The system screened millions of possible molecular combinations, narrowing the...
New Return and Earn Machine to Boost Recycling Access in Wollondilly
A new Return and Earn reverse‑vending machine will open at Silverdale Shopping Centre on 24 April, becoming the fifth collection point in Wollondilly Shire and replacing the Ampol Luddenham unit. The facility uses "takes‑all" technology that accepts bottles, cans and cartons...
Qld Reports Progress on Energy Roadmap Six Months After Launch
Six months after its launch, Queensland’s Energy Roadmap is delivering on price, reliability and sustainability goals. The government projects a 10% drop in electricity prices next fiscal year, contrasting a 19.9% rise under the previous administration. More than a gigawatt...
Global Steelmaker POSCO Steps up Involvement in HILT CRC
POSCO Holdings has upgraded its relationship with Australia’s Heavy Industry Low‑carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) from International Trading Partner to Key Partner. The new status grants POSCO seats on research advisory committees, the ability to propose research priorities,...
New Manufacturing Model for Batteries Boosted by Voltavate-ARENA Pilot Program
Voltavate, a Melbourne‑based battery specialist, secured a $3.55 million Australian government grant (about $2.3 million USD) from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to run a pilot‑scale program that integrates separator manufacturing directly onto battery production lines. The initiative moves the technology...
Qld Welcomes Major Investment in Kestrel Coal Mine Acquisition
The Queensland Government welcomed Yancoal Australia's purchase of an 80% stake in the Kestrel Coal Mine, Australia’s largest underground metallurgical coal operation near Emerald. The acquisition is expected to safeguard more than 800 direct jobs and bolster indirect employment. It...
Queensland Export Awards 2026 to Recognise Manufacturing, Export Performance
The Queensland Government has opened applications for the 2026 Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards, spotlighting manufacturing within its roughly $138.9 bn AUD (about $92 bn USD) export sector. Nominations are accepted until 12 June, with finalists announced in August and winners proceeding to...
War in Iran Dampens NZ Manufacturing Optimism Despite Continued Growth
New Zealand’s manufacturing PMI slipped to 53.2 in March, down from 54.8 in February but still above the 50‑point expansion threshold. The decline coincided with a sharp rise in negative sentiment, as 62% of firms cited the war in Iran...
Hazer and KBR Complete Commercial-Scale Hydrogen Design Package for Global Rollout
Hazer Group and engineering firm KBR have finished a commercial‑scale Process Design Package (PDP) for the Hazer methane‑pyrolysis hydrogen technology. The PDP outlines a standardised 30,000‑tonne‑per‑year hydrogen plant design, intended to streamline feasibility studies, basic engineering and front‑end engineering work....
Manufacturing Project to Advance 3D-Printed Naval Components, CDU Says
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is leading a Queensland Defence Sciences Alliance‑funded project to use SPEE3D’s cold‑spray additive manufacturing to 3D‑print nickel aluminium bronze (NAB) naval propulsion components. The initiative brings together James Cook University, the Australian Institute of Marine Science...
Weld Australia, ASSDA Sign Manufacturing-Focused MoU to Boost Industry Collaboration
Weld Australia and the Australian Stainless Steel Development Association (ASSDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen collaboration across the manufacturing sector. The MoU creates a reciprocal membership arrangement, giving members expanded access to events, technical resources, training and...
Australian Firms Urged to Access US$2 Billion Pacific Infrastructure Pipeline via New Austrade Platform
Austrade has launched an online Pacific Infrastructure platform that aggregates information on roughly US$2 billion worth of upcoming infrastructure projects across Pacific Island nations. The tool provides details on sectors, delivery stages, timelines and funding sources, aiming to give Australian firms...
Monash Research Uncovers New Pathway to Cleaner Copper Production
Monash University researchers identified microscopic defects and trace elements in chalcopyrite that can be leveraged to improve copper extraction. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, shows that tiny amounts of silver destabilize the mineral’s surface, boosting recovery rates. This insight...
Diesel Stockpile Agreement Aims to Improve Fuel Resilience Across Regional WA
The Western Australian government has signed a deal with independent supplier Cambridge Gulf to secure at least 4 million litres of diesel for storage in Wyndham, bolstering fuel resilience in the Kimberley region. The diesel will be 100 percent state‑owned and held...
Australia, United States Outline Joint Steps to Secure Critical Minerals Supply Chains
Australia and the United States have formalized a bilateral framework to secure critical‑minerals and rare‑earth supply chains, committing at least $1 billion each in financing within six months. The partnership establishes a Critical Minerals Supply Security Response Group to pinpoint vulnerabilities...
DryFlow Magnetics Ramps up Manufacturing for Waterless Iron Ore Tech
DryFlow Magnetics, an Adelaide‑based industrial tech firm, has secured an additional seed‑funding round following a $10 million AUD (~$6.6 million USD) raise in December 2025. The capital will fund manufacturing and installation of its first commercial pilot plant at a South Australian...
ACM CRC Backs Manufacturing Project to Develop Smart Surfboard Fins Aimed at Reducing Shark Attack Risks
The Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC is funding a research initiative to create smart composite surfboard fins that embed miniaturised sensors, electromagnetic deterrents and illumination directly into the fin structure. Led by Gowing Bros in partnership with UNSW Sydney and the...
Titomic Expands Manufacturing Capabilities Through TWI Industrial Membership
Titomic, an advanced metal manufacturing firm, has become an Industrial Member of TWI, a global materials‑engineering organization. The partnership grants Titomic access to TWI’s consultancy, research programmes and technical resources, bolstering its proprietary Kinetic Fusion cold‑spray technology. With manufacturing hubs...
Capral Secures Funding to Support Lower-Emissions Manufacturing Upgrade at Bremer Park
Capral Aluminium has secured up to AU$3.45 million (about US$2.3 million) from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to replace a 40‑year‑old gas‑fired furnace at its Bremer Park extrusion plant with a fully electric system. The new furnace will employ electric convection, induction...
Perfect Automation, Omori Partnership Aims to Improve Manufacturing Packaging
Perfect Automation and Omori have deepened their strategic alliance as Omori purchased a 50% stake in Perfect Automation. The joint venture aims to deliver advanced, locally‑tailored packaging solutions for Australian manufacturers. By merging Perfect Automation’s market knowledge with Omori’s global...
Five Projects, Including Manufacturing Initiatives, Share $6.9M in Grants
The Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program has allocated $6.9 million (about $4.5 million USD) across five innovation projects, targeting advanced manufacturing, sustainable materials and biotechnology. Aston Dynamics receives $1.5 million to prototype hydraulic‑jet electric trailer brakes, while Bioborne gets $2.27 million to scale an...
Manufacturing Advances in 3D Printing Explored for Nuclear Fuel Transport Safety, Says American Nuclear Society
The American Nuclear Society reports that Orano Federal Services and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are testing additive manufacturing to produce impact limiters for spent‑fuel transport casks. New 3D‑printing techniques, especially fused filament fabrication and selective laser melting,...
Researchers Examine Role of Leafy Vegetables in Alternative Mining Methods
Researchers at the University of Queensland have shown that common Brassicaceae vegetables, such as kale and broccoli, can accumulate the toxic yet valuable metal thallium in their leaves. Using micro‑X‑ray fluorescence and X‑ray diffraction mapping, the team observed crystallised thallium...
How Organisations Can Prepare for the Next Wave of AI and Automation
The article warns that the next wave of automation will be driven by agentic AI and the orchestration of multiple AI models across systems, demanding robust information governance. It stresses that automation success hinges on the quality, accuracy, and lifecycle...
TCL Unveils AI-Powered Manufacturing Facility in China
TCL has launched a $280 million AI‑powered air‑conditioner smart factory in Guangzhou, marking its 100 million‑unit milestone. The 303‑acre complex can produce 8 million units a year, roughly one unit every seven seconds, through three fully automated lights‑out lines. An on‑site AI supercomputing...
Manufacturing-Led AM Market Reaches $16B in 2025 – Report
Additive Manufacturing (AM) revenues reached $16.0 billion in 2025, marking a 10.2% year‑over‑year rise and outpacing the 8.3% growth recorded in 2024. Metal AM generated $6.27 billion while polymer AM delivered $9.79 billion, together accounting for the bulk of market value. AM services...
Ipswich Highlights Manufacturing Potential in Push to Become Queensland’s Defence Hub
Ipswich City Council is leveraging its 8,000 hectares of available industrial land to position the city as Queensland’s manufacturing and defence hub. The council’s "Space to Grow" prospectus highlights that manufacturing and defence account for about 60% of its $8 bn AUD...
Amaero Reports New Manufacturing Agreement Backed by $7.8M Titanium Powder Order
Amaero Ltd announced a manufacturing agreement that includes a A$7.8 million (≈ $5.1 million USD) purchase order for titanium alloy powders, with quarterly shipments from July 2026 to June 2027. The contract, tied to a private‑equity‑backed advanced‑materials customer, may exceed the minimum commitment as demand...
Vietnam Sourcing Fair to Showcase Asian Manufacturing Capabilities in April
The Global Sourcing Fair Vietnam 2026 will run April 22‑24 at Ho Chi Minh City’s Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, featuring over 500 exhibitors from Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and South Korea. More than 40,000 export‑ready products across...
Pilbara Manufacturing Boosted Through $846,700 in RED Grants
The Western Australian government has allocated $846,700 AUD (≈$558,000 USD) in Round 8 of its Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants to five Pilbara projects spanning manufacturing, hospitality, tourism and mining services. Inline Engineering Services will upgrade its polyurethane conveyor component processing, bolstering local...
Australian Government Launches Investor Front Door Pilot to Support Major Projects
The Australian government has launched the Investor Front Door pilot, a new platform designed to streamline regulatory engagement for large‑scale projects in fuel security, supply‑chain resilience and critical minerals. Four pioneering projects—HAMR Energy’s renewable fuel hub, Ardea Resources’ Kalgoorlie nickel...
La Trobe University Researchers Develop Portable PFAS Biosensor
La Trobe University researchers have created a portable biosensor that detects per‑fluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a key PFAS compound, on site and delivers an instant yes‑or‑no result. The device offers a low‑cost alternative to expensive laboratory analysis, potentially expanding monitoring frequency...
Ancient Tectonics Linked to Rare Earth Mineral Deposits, Adelaide University Study Finds
A University of Adelaide team linked ancient subduction zones to the majority of rare‑earth element (REE) deposits and carbonatites. Using two‑billion‑year plate‑tectonic models, they found 67% of carbonatites and 72% of REE deposits formed in the past 1.8 billion years sit...
MIT Develops 3D Printing Platform to Transform Manufacturing of Electric Machines
MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories unveiled a multimaterial 3D‑printing platform that integrates four extrusion heads to deposit conductive, magnetic and insulating feedstocks in a single build. The system printed a fully functional electric linear motor in roughly three hours with only...
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Breakthrough at UNSW Targets Transport and Aviation Use
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have unveiled a redesigned hydrogen fuel cell that incorporates microscopic lateral bypass channels to improve water management. The new architecture prevents water buildup, delivering up to 75% more power than conventional cells...
The Long Game: Building Australia’s Nuclear Submarine Workforce Pipeline
The Australian government announced a $310 million purchase of nuclear‑submarine components from the United Kingdom, building on a £2.4 billion (~$3.0 billion) contribution to expand Rolls‑Royce Submarines’ production capacity in Osborne, South Australia. Professor Yiannis Ventikos warned that a self‑sustaining submarine workforce will...
Qld Manufacturers Offered New Digital Skills Training Program
Manufacturing Queensland is launching an accredited Computer‑Aided Manufacturing (CAM) training program to boost digital skills in the state’s manufacturing sector. The four‑day, face‑to‑face course runs over two weeks in April and May 2026 and uses Autodesk Inventor to teach participants...
Australian Made Welcomes EU Free Trade Deal as Boost for Manufacturing
The Australian Made Campaign hailed the Australia‑European Union Free Trade Agreement as a major boost for domestic manufacturers. The deal will eventually eliminate tariffs on 98% of Australian exports to the EU, granting duty‑free access for a wide range of...
Why Energy Is Becoming a Strategic Asset for Manufacturers
Energy is evolving from a cost centre to a strategic lever for manufacturers, as highlighted in a GridBeyond‑hosted webinar for Australian Manufacturing. The session explained how digital intelligence—forecasting, automation and digital twins—enables firms to align production with real‑time market signals...
NSW Advances Battery Reform with Manufacturing Responsibility to Address Fires and Pollution
The New South Wales government has passed the nation’s first mandatory battery stewardship law, obligating manufacturers and suppliers to finance the safe collection, processing, and recycling of small, removable batteries. The move responds to a surge in lithium‑ion incidents—332 cases...
Australian Government Brings Forward $6.15B to Support Manufacturing and Business Resilience
The Australian government has fast‑tracked AU$6.15 billion (~US$4.1 billion) of concessional finance to shore up manufacturing and supply‑chain resilience. The package bundles a AU$1 billion (~US$660 million) Economic Resilience Program, a AU$5 billion (~US$3.3 billion) Net Zero Fund, and a AU$150 million (~US$99 million) Forestry Growth Fund under...
Capral Marks 90 Years of Australian Aluminium Manufacturing Milestone
Capral celebrated 90 years of Australian aluminium manufacturing, tracing its roots to the 1936 establishment of the British Aluminium Company’s local operations and the first domestic sheet delivery in June 1941. Over decades the business evolved through names such as...
South Australian Veteran-Owned Firms Partner to Boost Defence Manufacturing and Employment
South Australian veteran-owned firms ARES Armaments Australia and Aimpoint have signed a partnership to expand defence manufacturing workforce solutions, announced at the Avalon Airshow. The agreement includes a Certificate IV in Explosive Ordnance Manufacture, apprenticeship programmes and recruitment strategies aimed...
UNSW Sydney Study Reveals Hidden UV Risks for Solar Panel Manufacturing
Engineers at UNSW Sydney have developed a global model showing ultraviolet radiation can reduce the lifespan of next‑generation solar panels by up to ten years, especially in high‑UV regions. The research reveals that sun‑tracking installations receive significantly more UV exposure...
Gov’t Moves to Secure Domestic Gas Supply Amid Global Disruptions
The Australian Government has issued a notice of intent to potentially activate the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) if a projected gas shortfall materialises on the east coast in Q3 2026. The ACCC forecasts a 12‑petajoule deficit, with a...