Industry-Backed TAFE Degree Aims to Grow Skills Across Manufacturing, Automation Sectors
TAFE Queensland has introduced an Associate Degree in Applied Technologies, a higher‑education qualification designed to upskill workers in manufacturing, automation and digital technologies. The program was co‑created with industry leaders through the Queensland Future Skills Partnership, led by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, and is funded by a $2.1 million Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan investment. A pilot cohort of 20 employees from firms such as Glencore, Komatsu and Hastings Deering will commence the course, which aligns curriculum with real‑world operational needs. The initiative aims to close the regional skills gap and support future‑ready industrial growth.
Australia’s $2.1B Battery Recycling Sector Pushes for National Stewardship Framework
Australia’s battery recycling industry contributes about $2.1 billion annually and supports nearly 20 000 jobs across 45 facilities. The Battery Stewardship Council projects the sector could grow to $6.9 billion and 34 600 jobs by 2050, highlighting its strategic role in domestic critical‑minerals supply....
Food Manufacturing Industry to Meet in Melbourne Under Foodpro–AIFST Partnership
Foodpro 2026 will partner with the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) for a dual‑track event in Melbourne from 26‑29 July 2026. The four‑day expo will host more than 400 exhibitors alongside the AIFST26 conference, which runs 27‑28...
Manufacturing Resilience: Australian Firms Post Steady Growth in 2025 – Report
Australian manufacturers ended 2025 with solid performance, posting 5.1% annualised sales growth and maintaining a 38.47% profit margin. Companies reduced average stock on hand to A$233,763 while purchase order values rose 22%, indicating a shift toward just‑in‑time replenishment. Lead times...
Gov’t Grants Target Australian Manufacturing, AI and Industry Growth
The Australian Government announced a $66 million Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC‑P) grant round, funding 27 projects across manufacturing, artificial intelligence and other sectors. WV Technologies secured a $2.2 million grant for its Aboriginal‑led Global Cyber Innovation project, leveraging CSIRO AI to...
Chemical Manufacturing Drives Growth in US Manufacturing Sector, Census Bureau Reports
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 Economic Census shows chemical manufacturing expanded while the broader manufacturing sector contracted. Establishments in the chemical subsector rose 10.2% to 14,961 and shipment values jumped 22.4% to $901 billion between 2017 and 2022. Growth was anchored...
Visy Launches New Tasmanian Packaging Hub for Food and Farming Sectors
Visy has inaugurated an 8,500‑square‑metre packaging hub in Devonport, Tasmania, to supply cardboard solutions to the state’s food, beverage and agricultural producers. The facility, opened by Minister Julie Collins, aims to bolster local manufacturing capacity and create jobs within an...
DroneShield Launches EU Manufacturing Line to Scale Counter-UAS Systems
DroneShield has opened its first European Union manufacturing line to produce counter‑UAS systems, with deliveries slated for mid‑2026. The move partners with an established EU contract manufacturer to handle turnkey assembly, PCB production, precision machining and testing. It aligns with...
Construction Underway on Kwinana Clean Energy Research Hub
Australia’s Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Centre has begun construction on the first stage of the Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub (KETH) in Western Australia. Western Projects will build the R&D building, designed by Ferguson Architects, with work starting in September...
Cisco Survey: Infrastructure Gaps Stall AI Adoption in Manufacturing
Cisco’s 2026 State of Industrial AI report, based on 350+ manufacturing leaders across 19 countries, reveals that infrastructure shortfalls are throttling AI rollout in factories. While 96% view reliable wireless connectivity as essential, 56% cite frequent outages that disrupt operations....
Renewable Fuels Summit Kicks Off with $80M Funding Boost
Australia's Renewable Fuels Summit opened with an $80 million government funding boost for industrial decarbonisation and the announcement of the country's first agricultural renewable gas plant. Analysts estimate the nation has enough feedstock to sustain a $10 billion‑a‑year renewable fuels sector, potentially...
Engineers Australia Underscores Engineering Role in Updated Infrastructure Priority List
Engineers Australia has welcomed Infrastructure Australia’s updated Infrastructure Priority List, which outlines five critical sectors—high‑productivity freight networks, port capacity, high‑capacity urban transport, secure sustainable water, and a net‑zero clean‑energy economy. The list is designed to steer federal and state investment...
SPEE3D 3D Printing Restores ‘Deadlined’ US Army Vehicle in Hours
SPEE3D’s deployable Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit (EMU) used cold‑spray additive manufacturing to design, print, heat‑treat and machine a replacement battle‑lock handle for a US Army combat support vehicle in under 10 hours, restoring the vehicle within a 24‑hour field exercise. The...
Manufacturing Leaders Convene as Queensland Plots Industry Growth
The Queensland Manufacturing Advisory Council (QMAC) convened its first meeting of the year, bringing together industry leaders and government officials to shape the state’s manufacturing future. Discussions centered on the $79.1 million Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grants Program, innovation, advanced technology, and...
Australia–India Research Advances Greener Steel Manufacturing Through Agricultural Waste Trial
CSIRO and the Indian Institute of Science successfully trialed rice husk pellets as a partial coal substitute in steelmaking gasifiers at Jindal Steel’s Odisha plant. The world‑first test blended 5‑10% biomass‑derived syngas, delivering steady performance. Researchers estimate scaling the approach...
Orora Reports First Year of Reduced Emissions at Gawler Glass Manufacturing Site
Orora has completed the first year of operation for its G3 oxy‑fuel glass furnace at the Gawler plant in South Australia. The $130 million upgrade, funded in part by a $12.5 million government grant, has cut natural‑gas use by 32% and eliminated...
3D-Printed Padding System Aims to Improve Safety and Quality of EOD Helmets
A 3D‑printed lattice padding system for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) helmets is being developed by rapid product manufacturing GmbH (rpm) in partnership with amsight. The additively manufactured padding replaces conventional foam, allowing stiffness and damping to be tuned for different...
Dairy Manufacturing Prices Show Cautious Recovery Despite Global Oversupply, Rabobank Says
Rabobank’s Q1 Global Dairy Quarterly reports a modest rebound in dairy manufacturing prices, driven primarily by Australian and New Zealand products. Despite the rally, global milk supply remains abundant, with production growth projected to slow to just 0.2% in 2026 after...
Australian Manufacturing Sees Productivity Boost From Asset Upgrades, CommBank Reports
Commonwealth Bank of Australia reports that 87.6% of firms that upgraded vehicles, machinery or technology saw productivity gains of more than 10%, with larger companies achieving 20‑50% improvements. Asset‑finance volumes rose 20% year‑on‑year in December 2025, led by manufacturing equipment...
Manufacturing First: Surfboard Fins Made From Recycled Wind Turbine Blades Launch in Australia
ACCIONA and Australian surf‑fin maker Bolero Surf have launched the world’s first commercially available surfboard fins made from recycled wind‑turbine blades. The fins, unveiled at the 2026 Aussie Boardriders Battle, are produced locally under the Turbine Made initiative, which converts...
From Cost Exposure to Cost Control: Using Energy Flexibility to Protect Margins
Australian manufacturers are facing heightened margin pressure as wholesale electricity prices swing dramatically within hours. GridBeyond’s FlexPilot framework proposes turning energy from a volatile cost into a controllable variable by integrating seven‑day price forecasts, machine‑learning optimisation, and digital‑twin simulations into...
NSW Backs $70M Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Project to Support Moree Farms
The New South Wales government has approved a $70 million green hydrogen and ammonia project near Moree, with $45.2 million of state funding. The joint venture between Hiringa Energy and Sundown Pastoral will generate about 4,500 tonnes of ammonia each year to serve...
$53M Grant to Support Development of Critical Metals Refining Industry
The Australian Government has committed $53 million through the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program to launch the Critical Metals for Critical Industries (CMCI) CRC. The initiative brings together 62 industry and research partners to develop domestic refining processes for critical metals...
Advanced Vaccine Manufacturing in Australia to Supply Canada with 15 Million Pandemic Doses
Australian biotech firm CSL Seqirus has secured a contract with Canada’s Public Health Agency to deliver up to 15 million doses of a cell‑based, adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccine if the WHO declares a pandemic. The doses will be manufactured at CSL...
Program Launched to Recycle Used Clear Aligners Across Australia and New Zealand
Angelalign Technology has launched a recycling program for used clear aligners in partnership with TerraCycle, covering dental and orthodontic practices across Australia and New Zealand. The initiative uses TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box system to collect multi‑layered plastic aligners, which are...
Government, Industry Launch Network to Help Australian Exporters Diversify
The Australian Government and industry groups launched the Trade Diversification Network (TDN) on 4 March as part of the $50 million Accessing New Markets Initiative. The network brings together 40 national peak bodies to provide coordinated market‑intelligence, trade services and sector‑specific support...
Child-Safety Focus Drives New Washing Machine Design Standard Ahead of 2026 Deadline
Standards Australia amended AS/NZS 60335.2.7 to mandate a dual‑action start mechanism for washing machines sold in Australia and New Zealand from July 2026. The change, driven by child‑safety incidents such as the 2021 Christchurch tragedy, requires two distinct user inputs before a cycle...
Push to Attract More Women Into Queensland Manufacturing Careers
Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) has launched a new campaign to draw more women into the state’s $28.9 billion manufacturing sector, which faces acute skills shortages. The initiative centers on the Manufacturing Industry Influencer Program, featuring female professionals from boilermaking to rocket...
Manufacturing Begins on Guided Missiles in Australia, Defence Says
The Australian Defence Department has launched domestic production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) at a new facility in Port Wakefield, South Australia. The first batch of missiles is slated for completion by mid‑March 2026, marking the first GMLRS...
Manufacturing Reform Urged to Unlock Clean Aluminium Recycling Opportunity
The Australian Aluminium Council released an L.E.K. Consulting report urging policy reform to unlock large‑scale clean aluminium recycling. While recycling consumes only about five percent of the energy required for primary production, high energy costs, tight scrap margins and fragmented...
UK Rail Research Leader Speaks on Manufacturing, Collaboration in Melbourne
Luisa Moisio, Director of Research at the UK Rail Safety and Standards Board, delivered the 13th Stephen Marich Annual Lecture at Monash University, outlining two decades of British rail research collaboration. She emphasized the UK Rail Technical Strategy and the...
Victoria Expands Battery Recycling Network with 50 New Collection Points
The Victorian Government announced the addition of 50 new battery recycling collection points, supplementing upgrades at 17 existing sites, to make disposal safer and easier. Funding will support local councils and registered charities, with more than 30 locations placed in...
Manufacturing Clarity Needed on Proposed Work-From-Home Legislation, Says SEMMA
Australian manufacturing group SEMMA has warned that Victoria’s proposed work‑from‑home legislation could clash with federal industrial‑relations law and is ill‑suited to many manufacturing operations. The alliance highlighted that most small and medium manufacturers already negotiate flexible arrangements directly with employees...
Advanced Manufacturing Investment Supports $21M Northern Territory Glass Facility
The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre helped launch a $21 million advanced glass manufacturing plant in East Arm, Darwin, operated by Northern Glass Solutions. The purpose‑built facility produces high‑performance glass—including bullet‑ and cyclone‑resistant types—reducing supply‑chain distances by roughly 3,000 km. Funding came from...
South Australia Chosen for HAMR Energy’s First Australian Methanol-to-Jet SAF Plant
South Australia has been chosen as the site for HAMR Energy’s $700‑800 million methanol‑to‑jet sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant, the first of its kind in the country. The facility will use Honeywell technology to convert 300,000 tonnes of low‑carbon methanol into about...
TGA Seeks Public Feedback on New Manufacturing Rules for Medicines, Medicinal Gases
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has launched two concept papers for public consultation, proposing revisions to PIC/S GMP Annex 6 for medicinal gases and Annex 15 for qualification and validation processes. The Annex 6 update seeks to reflect modern manufacturing technologies and computerized...
Schneider Electric Concludes Sustainability Impact 2021-2025 Program with 8.86/10 Score
Schneider Electric released its 2025 extra‑financial results, closing the 2021‑2025 Schneider Sustainability Impact (SSI) program with an overall rating of 8.86 out of 10. The initiative delivered 862 million tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions, a 56 % cut in supplier emissions, and...
Automation and Inkjet Reshape Print Manufacturing in 2026 – Jet Technologies
Australian print manufacturers are accelerating automation and digital inkjet adoption to counter chronic labour shortages, tighter turnaround expectations, and rising job complexity. Jet Technologies reports a structural shift toward production lines with fewer human touchpoints, leveraging connected digital platforms beyond...
WA Gov’t Targets Manufacturing and Key Industries in New Workforce Strategy
The Western Australian Government announced a new WA Workforce Strategy aimed at bolstering priority sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence, clean energy, construction, tourism, hospitality and the care economy. Six industry‑focused roundtables and an online consultation running until 30 April 2026 will...
Australia Doubles Down on Manufacturing with Critical Minerals Rise
The Australian Government’s 2025 edition of Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources (AIMR) highlights a surge in critical mineral reserves and production, reinforcing the nation’s role as a reliable supplier for high‑tech manufacturing, defence and clean‑energy sectors. Eleven critical minerals, including fluorine,...
Manufacturing Growth Slows in February as S&P Global PMI Signals Softer Expansion
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...
Advanced Navigation Launches Chimera Land Laser Navigation System for Mining
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 Call for Policy Action as Land Tax Costs Escalate
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 Resets Manufacturing Strategy, Cuts Investment to $3M
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...
AUKUS Partners Launch First UK Submarine Maintenance in Australia
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,...
$6.9M Boost for Australian Manufacturing of Printed Solar and Semiconductors
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...
ARENA Advances Industrial Emissions Cuts with $400M Fund
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 and AMRF Connect Launch Advanced Manufacturing Program for SMEs
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...
Australian-Made AS9 Huntsman Howitzers Roll Off Geelong Production Line
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 Research Partnership Scales Food Productivity System to Commercial Level
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...