Advanced manufacturing
A vibrant advanced manufacturing sector is emerging from the Hunter’s well-established traditional assemblage. Much of the advanced manufacturing aligns with the existing defence, aerospace, and mining industries but also incorporates chemical processing, construction, and energy generation and distribution. Advanced manufacturing in the Hunter comprises about 2000 regional businesses employing about […]
Enabling secure access to modern manufacturing networks
Article by Leon Poggioli, ANZ Regional Director at Claroty Traditional manufacturing plants and OT (Operational Technology) networks had no internet connectivity. They could run in a semi-isolated fashion, and there was little risk of a cyberattack. As the modern OT network becomes more digitised and technology-enabled to leverage AI and increased automation, […]
Super-tough cushions get to the bottom of tricky lifting problems
Aramid textile-coated reusable Pronal CLT lifting cushions in capacities up to 65 tons per unit Mining, construction, energy exploration, and infrastructure groups are becoming ever nimbler in moving plant, people, and resources over major distances as opportunities decline at one site and open up in more profitable areas. This has […]
BAE Systems Australia awarded $270m contract to boost guided weapon component production
BAE Systems Australia has been awarded a $270 million contract to significantly increase the production of critical components and assemblies for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2. The ESSM Block 2 is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile developed to protect warships from advanced anti-ship cruise missiles. It is in […]
Enabling secure access to modern manufacturing networks
Article by Leon Poggioli, ANZ Regional Director at Claroty Traditional manufacturing plants and OT (Operational Technology) networks had no internet connectivity. They could run in a semi-isolated fashion, and there was little risk of a cyberattack. As the modern OT network becomes more digitised and technology-enabled to leverage AI and increased automation, […]
AI can boost Australian manufacturing productivity, if it’s used correctly
By Stephen Roebuck, Associate Director of Consultancy, Peninsula Australia Australian manufacturing businesses have their sights set on improving productivity to meet ever-evolving consumer demand through the utilisation of AI. Indeed, this was demonstrated by a recent CommBank report, Manufacturing 2024 Insights Report, which found that 71% of manufacturers are focusing […]
CSIRO and Murdoch University launch Bioplastics Innovation Hub to end plastic waste
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and Murdoch University have launched The Bioplastics Innovation Hub, an $8 million collaboration that will work with industry partners to develop a new generation of 100 per cent compostable plastic. The Bioplastics Innovation Hub aims to revolutionise plastic packaging by developing biologically derived plastic that […]
Transforming Manufacturing: The Power of AI in Industry 5.0
By Terry Smagh, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia-Pacific and Japan at Infor The manufacturing and distribution industries are no strangers to innovation. Over the past decade, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has played out, bringing to bear powerful new technologies including the IoT, advanced analytics, process automation, and AI. […]
AAAA urges government to unlock manufacturing funds to secure automotive industry’s future
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) is urging the government to act on manufacturing funding commitments, which are essential to the growth and competitiveness of the automotive manufacturing industry. The AAAA, the peak body for the automotive aftermarket industry, was encouraged by last year’s announcement of the $15 billion National […]
Black Sky Industries launch in Australia a boost to sovereign defence industry capability
Defence industry and technology company Black Sky Industries has formally launched in Australia, announcing the establishment of its multi-million dollar headquarters in Logan, in South East Queensland as well as launch, test and manufacturing facilities throughout Western Queensland. Black Sky aims to greatly accelerate the production capability of sovereign scaled […]
Has Industry 4.0 left your operations vulnerable?
Trevor Dearing, Director of Critical Infrastructure Solutions, Illumio For three years running, manufacturing has been a top-attacked industry, according to the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024. Attackers see manufacturers as an increasingly attractive target. Smart factories open new attack vectors, and as new industrial control systems (ICS) become more […]
Combatting rising costs by optimising operational efficiency
James Robinson, SYSPRO Head of Services Asia Pacific. Over the past five years, the manufacturing sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, enduring many different challenges. Today, manufacturers face a renewed and formidable challenge with unexpected higher inflation raising the risk of yet another rate hike, threatening to destabilise the core economics […]
Advanced manufacturing
A vibrant advanced manufacturing sector is emerging from the Hunter’s well-established traditional assemblage. Much of the advanced manufacturing aligns with the existing defence, aerospace, and mining industries but also incorporates chemical processing, construction, and energy generation and distribution. Advanced manufacturing in the Hunter comprises about 2000 regional businesses employing about 20,000 people and contributing $2 billion to the NSW economy. The sector’s priorities include improving engagement with international markets, accessing global supply chains, and increasing the engagement between research and industry. It is important the Hunter’s advanced manufacturers position themselves to maximise their potential to leverage government initiatives including the National Reconstruction Fund, the Future Made in Australia bill and Industry Growth programs among many others. The current ecosystem suggests the Hunter is well placed to build leading capability. Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) recognises the importance of sharing the stories of the region’s advanced manufacturers on a national stage. HMA chair Jacqui Daley says it enhances “Brand Hunter”. Assisting advanced manufacturing businesses reach the stage where they have a worthy story to tell is The Melt, founded in 2017 as a spinoff from Australia’s most successful corporate accelerator, Slingshot. Brett Thomas is Director and Chief Operating Officer of The Melt’s Muswellbrook facility, which provides technical specialists, and investment funding via Melt Ventures, to help emerging businesses prove, prototype, pilot, and produce physical devices. “We help start-ups and scale-ups,” Mr Thomas says. “In particular, businesses creating new devices and products that are clean tech, climate tech, or advanced-manufacturing related. Most of those products have embedded IoT (internet of things) and software elements but the core of the products is a physical device.” MrThomas says the risk of failure for the founders, start-ups, and scaling businesses making physical products is much higher than it is for other start-ups. There are several reasons […]