February 2026

February 2026

Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre adds thousands of jobs to the economy

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) marks its second decade of operations, celebrating ten years of industry led impact that has helped transform Australian manufacturing through commercialisation, collaboration, and global competitiveness. Since its establishment, AMGC has supported 170 co-invested projects involving more than 500 collaborators across industry and research institutions. These projects have delivered more than $170 million dollars in combined funding and are expected to return over $1.72 billion dollars to the national economy. AMGC has demonstrated that when solid Australian ideas are backed by industry leadership and targeted investment, they generate resilient jobs, export opportunities, and more prosperity. From concept to commercial success, AMGC has been central to turning Australian innovation into globally competitive businesses. Among its many achievements, AMGC projects have played a role in the creation of two Australian unicorns. Alpha HPA Limited has added value to critical minerals and built advanced materials capability for batteries and electronics. Gilmour Space has taken Australian rocketry and space systems onto the world stage. More broadly, AMGC projects have created or upskilled more than 4,400 advanced manufacturing roles in Australia, in turn strengthening local communities, and building long term industrial capability. Dr Jens Goennemann, Managing Director for AMGC said, “Over the past ten years, our engagement model has shown that when good ideas are backed by well-informed knowledge and rather modest funding, we can create manufacturing jobs and prosperity. From critical minerals to space, health to clean energy, we can build, scale, and sell Australian innovations to the world.” The diversity of AMGC-supported projects is unmatched. Projects have ranged from autonomous waterway mapping vessels, hydrogen powered aerospace systems, advanced medical diagnostics, renewable energy components and high-performance composite manufacturing. Every AMGC project shares one common outcome, Australian inventions have been commercialised to serve local and export customers. The return on investment […]

World automatic entry leader Gilgen Door Systems AG boosts Australian design and construction choices with brand expansion

A world leader in precision engineered, aesthetically attractive, and functionally innovative automatic entry systems, Gilgen Door Systems AG, is expanding its brand and range in Australia with its rebranding of Access Entry Automatic Door Solutions . The Swiss company has negotiated a majority shareholding in Access Entry, which will rebrand from February 1 into a new company led by ongoing shareholder and Managing Director, Richard Whitfield. Mr Whitfield says the newly rebranded Australian Gilgen Door Systems will combine the valuable core of established local knowledge, service and capabilities developed over 25 years by Access Entry, with the resources of a company that is a market leader in 80 countries. “This brand expansion is a great development for architects, builders, property investors, and owners or managers of broad categories of commercial and government buildings, to whom we can provide very welcome, fresh and innovative ranges backed by excellent service through an established, knowledgeable, and expanding workforce already in place,” says Richard. Access Entry recently celebrated its 25th anniversary as a leading product and service supplier to commercial, industrial, government, and retail facilities, including shopping centres and cool room facilities, as well as having strong expertise in the hospitals, aged care, and education markets throughout our national footprint. Gilgen Door Systems – founded in 1961 and with more than 1,000 staff working on landmark projects – is known internationally for its innovative solutions that prioritise function, design, and sustainability. Major components of its ranges include automatic door systems, gates, and sliding walls, platform screen doors, high security shutters, drive systems based on the core technology of its automatic systems, and specialised solutions tailored for unique applications. “The international group’s new Australian subsidiary Gilgen Door Systems will build on the success of a company with a proven track record of more than 25 […]