Smart Manufacturing

Australia secures trade deal with EU

After 8 years of negotiations, Australia has secured a landmark trade deal with the European Union, the world’s second largest economy. The Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement will lower trade and investment barriers between Australia and the European Union – a market of around 450 million people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, together with the Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Mr Maroš Šefčovič announced the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement today which, together with the Australia-EU Security and Defence partnership, is a key aspect of our growing strategic relationship. The deal will strengthen our economic and strategic partnership; demonstrate our mutual commitment to open and rules-based trade; and diversify our trade – bolstering Australia’s competitiveness, growth and resilience in an increasingly uncertain global trade environment. The trade agreement will result in 98 per cent of the current value of Australia’s exports entering the European Union duty free. Australian farmers and producers will benefit from the elimination of almost all European Union tariffs on agricultural products. This includes wine, nuts, fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, most dairy products, wheat and barley, and seafood. For example, Australian wine producers and exporters will benefit to the tune of around $37 million annually with the removal of European Union import tariffs. For other important agricultural products, the agreement delivers commercially meaningful access through new or expanded tariff rate quota volumes, including for beef, sheep meat, sugar, rice, wheat gluten, skimmed milk powder and natural butter. The removal of most Australian tariffs on imports from the EU will make things like European wine, spirits, biscuits, chocolates and pasta cheaper at Aussie checkouts. Farmers and businesses will also benefit from […]

The 4 x 4 World Class Productivity Simulation

Supercharge your productivity and learn how to apply Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools Access your CI maturity Create your CI action plan Unlock your operating excellence For leaders who are serious about driving efficiency, gaining clarity and implementing continuous improvement (CI) programs across their organisation – this workshop is for you. The World Class Productivity Simulation (The 4 x 4)is an internationally proven, hands-on learning experience that: *Accelerates team and leadership understanding of continuous improvement as a key tool to lift productivity and drive real change. *Heips you assess your own business CI maturity *Provides a clear roadmap on how to build a culture of continuous improvement *Identifies and prioritises where your business can get measurable productivity gains This is a dynamic experimental workshop where your team will engage, compete, collaborate and apply real-world tools in a simulated business environment. Your organisationwill see the impact of lean principles, operational discipline, and teamwork -immediately and tangibly. From workshop to workplace, real results that stick Practicial outcomes you can use immediately *A clear understanding of CI levers that drive efficiency *Shared language and framework for sustainable improvement *A roadmap to reduce rework, delays and waste *Strategies for lifting performance across functions *Insights and tactics on how and where to boost productivity across teams and functions Who it’s for For organisations at any stage of their continuous improvement journey, whether you’re just getting started or looking to take exisitng capability to the next level. Group size: 12-24 participants Delivered by: Argon and Co’s experienced facilitators Investment: $1,050 AUD per person + GST & travel expenses Location Course No. Course Type Dates-2026 Adelaide 4x4Au000 2-day AI March 10th & 11th Brisbane 4x4Au002 2-day AI […]

DroneShield DroneSentry rapidly deployable fixed-site C-UAS solution

DroneShield Selected for LAND 156 LoE 3 Panel

DroneShield Limited has been selected as a supplier for the Australian Department of Defence’s (Defence) Project LAND 156’s Line of Effort 3, which supports the Defence’s strategy to address evolving threats posed by small drones in domestic security. The selection relates to Line of Effort 3, establishing a Counter-small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-sUAS) Services Standing Offer Panel (Panel). DroneShield’s selection as a Category 2 CsUAS solutions provider on the Panel allows for Defence to procure hardware, software, Command-and-Control software (C2), and all associated support services under a Capability as a Service (CaaS) model. DroneShield is one of a number of parties selected as a provider on the Panel. The Panel is available for Defence as a means of engaging domestic site planning and support services. Selection on the Panel does not guarantee contracts. Under the Panel, each of Defence’s base, or groups of bases, will be assessed and tendered by their appropriate authorities with specific requirements. This arrangement enables Defence to procure counter-drone solutions for Defence and other Whole of Government sites as a service after suitable assessment, streamlining contract opportunities and accelerating deployment timelines. As noted by the Australian Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, the Australian Government has set aside $1.3 billion for the acquisition of counter-drone capabilities over the next 10 years, highlighting the strategic importance of this domain and of Project LAND 156. Oleg Vornik, Chief Executive of DroneShield said, “We welcome the opportunity to support Defence through this Panel arrangement and stand ready to deliver battle-proven, software-defined C-sUAS solutions.” AIRCDRE (Ret’d) Terry Van Haren DSM, Vice President Strategy of DroneShield said, “The growing threat from small drones demands practical, tested solutions to safeguard Defence bases and critical assets. We encourage Government and Defence stakeholders to take advantage of this Panel arrangement to […]

From efficiency to resilience: Supply chains in an uncertain world

Rick Kroon, Argon & Co, Europe For decades, supply chains were designed primarily around cost and efficiency. Globalisation, lean inventories, and just-in-time production enabled companies to operate at minimal margins. Yet the disruptions of recent years, from the COVID-19 pandemic to geopolitical tensions, extreme weather, and raw-material shortages, has exposed the fragility of this model. Today, resilience has become a strategic capability. Organisations are recognising that supply chains built solely for efficiency, struggle to absorb shocks. Resilient supply chains, by contrast, can anticipate, adapt, and recover while maintaining service levels and profitability. A Gartner Supply Chain Survey1 (2024) found that 83% of global supply chain leaders now prioritise resilience, up from just 45% before the pandemic, underscoring a clear shift from “cheapest” to “strongest.” Understanding the new risk landscape Uncertainty is no longer an occasional issue; it has become a constant aspect of global trade. Disruptions arise from multiple directions: Geopolitical instability, including trade restrictions and regional conflicts. Climate-related events affecting production and logistics networks. Cybersecurity threats across increasingly connected digital supply chains. Demand volatility and supply shocks driven by inflation and market fluctuations. According to Lund et al.2 (2020), companies can expect month-long disruptions every 3.7 years on average, with the potential to erode up to 45% of one year’s EBITDA over a decade. Building resilience is therefore not only a defensive strategy, but also a financial imperative. Resilience and efficiency can coexist A common misconception is that resilience inevitably increases cost. In reality, modern supply chains can achieve both efficiency and resilience through intelligent design, enhanced visibility, and proactive risk management. Leading organisations focus on three levers: Visibility and transparency Digital control towers and predictive analytics enable faster detection of disruption, improved exception management, and more informed decision-making according to Deloitte3 (2018). Diversification and optionality Multi-tier, multi-location sourcing models, including nearshoring and regionalization, reduce […]

HMAs Award Winners (30-10-25) - High Res-38

Local manufacturers prove the future is Hunter made

From start-ups and apprentices to global exporters and century-old innovators, the 2025 Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) have celebrated a sector on the rise, one that’s building the industries, technologies, and jobs of Australia’s future. Now in its 21st year, the awards drew a record number of entries, more than 50% up on last year, showcasing the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and courage that continue to define manufacturing across the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, and New England. HMA Chair Jacqui Daley said the night was about recognising the strength, innovation, and resilience of a sector that is vital to Australia’s economic future. “Manufacturing in the Hunter is more diverse, more advanced, and more connected to the world than ever before,” Ms Daley said. Our 2025 Manufacturer of the Year winners, Brain Industries and Agrana Fruit Australia, both have export at the heart of their success. They’re taking the Hunter to the world and proving that regional manufacturers can compete, and succeed, on the international stage.” “We’re seeing extraordinary things being made right here, from Elecbrakes revolutionising towing technology through Australian-made automation, to Supacell turning everyday recyclables into sustainable insulation, and from Tomago Aluminium’s digital transformation to Design Anthology’s advanced med-tech design.” “Manufacturing isn’t sitting quietly behind the scenes anymore. It’s the backbone of our economy, the engine of regional jobs, and the platform that will power Australia’s next great leaps in clean energy, defence capability, health, and technology.” Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley congratulated all winners and finalists, acknowledging their contribution to the region’s proud industrial legacy and future growth. “Tonight’s celebration is the best of the Hunter on display, our ingenuity, our craftsmanship, and our courage to reimagine what’s possible,” Minister Catley said. “This year’s Hunter Manufacturing Awards theme, Forging Our Future, could not be more fitting. […]

The global race is on to secure critical minerals

Amir Razmiou, Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University It’s clear there’s an era of global competition underway. Critical minerals are essential for manufacturing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles and renewables. And governments everywhere are racing to secure a future supply. Australia holds vast reserves of lithium, rare earths, cobalt and tungsten. This presents both a golden opportunity and a looming challenge. What, exactly, are critical minerals? And what advantages might they offer to Australia? What are they? Critical minerals are the raw materials used to manufacture objects like mobile phones, wind turbines and weapons. They underpin the technologies of the next industrial age, from lithium-ion batteries to F-35 fighter jets. There’s no single list of critical minerals, as countries have their own definitions of what is essential. The Australian government describes them as elements essential for modern technologies, the economy and national security with supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical risk. In Australia, the 31 minerals and rare earths defined as ‘critical’ include lithium, magnesium and zirconium. Rare earths are heavy metals used in electrical and magnetic components. These elements aren’t truly rare in the Earth’s crust but occur in low concentrations, making them difficult and expensive to extract. Geoscience Australia has mapped extensive deposits of critical minerals across the continent. Accessing them could position Australia as a key supplier to global clean-energy industries. The critical mineral lithium is essential to building large rechargable batteries used in renewables projects. Ted Shaffrey/AAP A booming industry Australia’s current Critical Minerals Strategy sets out a plan to move from simply mining and extracting these minerals to going further to refine, process and manufacture them. This is backed by initiatives such as the $4 billion Critical Minerals Facility to support projects aligned with the strategy. This also includes a new 10% production tax credit for onshore refining. Together, these policies form a strong foundation […]

(L-R) Minister Tara Moriarty, representative of Australian Juice Processing and Bottling in Leeton, Helen Dalton NSW MP for Murray (1)

Minns Government delivers $23.4 million boost for Riverina’s economic development and more jobs

The Minns Labor Government is investing in four key projects to boost the Riverina’s local economy and deliver jobs as part of its plan to build economic development in regional NSW. This funding is part of the Minns Government’s approach to delivering smart investment, with local partners, to make a real difference for regional communities. The Minns Government’s NSW Regional Development Trust will firstly invest $5.72 million and funding recipients will invest a further $17.74 million, to deliver new manufacturing technology and expand tourism. The four Riverina economic development projects receiving funds are as follows: $2.5 million – for a new state-of-the-art bottling line at the Leeton Juice Facility ***see attached image*** Australian Juice Processing and Bottling will install a new bottling line featuring automated and continuous operation that will include heating and blow moulding of containers, as well as filling, capping and labelling functions. This equipment will increase facility output to up to 100,000 containers per hour. (L-R) Minister Tara Moriarty, representative of Australian Juice Processing and Bottling in Leeton, Helen Dalton NSW MP for Murray. $2.27 million – to develop a Regional Demonstration Hub for chilling and freezing Staughton Group will build a Regional Demonstration Hub for inline chilling and freezing to transform regional food processing. The project will deliver new technologies to upgrade chilling and freezing infrastructure for regional food processors and provide equipment and services to regional NSW abattoirs and food manufacturers. The new technologies will help make food manufacturing more sustainable and profitable. $568,959– to build the Hillston Arid Zone Botanic Garden Carrathool Shire Council will develop an eight-hectare Arid Zone Botanic Garden in Hillston which will include the delivery of water and electricity services to the site, irrigation systems, a free camping and caravan area, an Aboriginal cultural learning area, irrigation systems, and the conservation of […]

Terry Smagh, Infor senior vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific and Japan

Turning Tech into ROI: 4 Practical Strategies for Manufacturers

By Terry Smagh, Infor Senior Vice President and General Manager, APJ Australia’s manufacturing sector is at a crossroads. Rising operational and energy costs coupled with labour shortages are affecting local production. Despite the Government’s ambitious ‘Future Made in Australia’ policy that envisions a transformative path for Australia’s economy over the next decade, the manufacturing sector has struggled to maintain competitiveness, create jobs and attract global investment. Securing Australia’s place in a rapidly changing global environment is vital to boost private sector investment and build a stronger and more resilient economy. Amid global geopolitical tensions, technology investments are vital to drive a transformation in manufacturing. According to research by McKinsey, technology centricity is an imperative rather than an alternative. Nearly half of top-performing companies have adopted product- or platform-centric operating models. The rest are trying to catch up. Recent research from Infor found that 80% of organisations expect to increase investment in technology by 20% or more over the coming years. Technology transformation is becoming an imperative in Australia as manufacturing businesses adopt advanced technologies like IoT, AI and cloud computing. These technology investments are effective when coupled with preparedness. Unfortunately, some Australian manufacturers are grappling with operational issues like staff shortages and resistance to adapting to new technologies. The nation’s ageing workforce, in particular, has widened this gap. Bridging the industrial skills gap through tech Adapting the workforce for a digital-first environment is critical for growth. Infor’s research sheds new light on this challenge, highlighting a significant gap between the most and least productive industrial organisations in terms of access to skilled talent, with a 22.7% difference in their ability to meet market demands. The talent crisis is being intensified by the rapid evolution of manufacturing technologies, which demands a workforce with more advanced skills than ever before. This presents […]

A decade of natural gas delivers $127 billion boost to QLD economy

Queensland’s natural gas industry contributed $127 billion to the state economy while supporting nearly 60,000 jobs in its first decade of LNG exports, economic analysis commissioned by Australian Energy Producers has found. The Economic Impact of Queensland Natural Gas and LNG 2014–24 report, by Lawrence Consulting, found the industry directly spent $58.6 billion in Queensland over the last decade, including $42.5 billion with more than 3,000 local businesses, community groups and charities. Australian Energy Producers Queensland Director Keld Knudsen said the findings reaffirmed the gas industry is a key driver of Queensland’s economic prosperity and energy security. “As Queensland’s natural gas industry celebrates the significant milestone of a decade of LNG exports, it is worth reflecting how the industry has transformed Queensland’s economic and energy future,” Mr Knudsen said. “This investment is paying dividends for all Queenslanders, delivering reliable and affordable energy for millions of homes and businesses, while unlocking billions of dollars each year in economic activity and government revenue to help fund the essential services and infrastructure our communities rely on.”. Key findings of the sector’s contribution in the period 2014-24 include: $127 billion added to Queensland’s Gross State Product $58.6 billion spent across Queensland over the decade which comprised: $42.5 billion in spending with 3,178 businesses and 307 community groups $7.2 billion in payments to the Queensland Government $695 million paid to local councils $8.2 billion in wages to Queensland workers Mr Knudsen said Queensland’s LNG export industry is an integral part of regional communities across the state, underpinning local jobs, businesses and services. “Every LNG tanker that departs Gladstone represents around $4.5 million in royalties paid to the state, $11.2 million in spending with local businesses, and millions more in salaries, community contributions and taxes.” “Long-term policy certainty is key to driving more investment in new gas supply and […]

Australia’s Economic Reform Roundtable August 21-25, Canberra – a focus on Productivity

Decades of strong and continuous growth cemented Australia’s reputation as the “lucky country.” Most Australians took this economic exceptionalism for granted. And who could blame them? It was just a fact of life. While economic engines elsewhere faltered with bursting bubbles and financial crises, Australia powered ahead. Yet, around 2016, Australia’s economic engine started running out of puff and is now at risk of stalling. In the golden years (1993–2016), per capita GDP grew at 1.8 per cent a year. The post-2016 growth rate has averaged just 0.6 per cent, and, since 2020, it has been negative. Above decks, many missed the trouble brewing in the engine room. An extended mining boom, strong population growth, and a massive stimulus bump during the pandemic years kept the party going. Optimism prevailed: This is Australia, things are different here, and “she’ll be right, mate.” Up on the bridge in Canberra, lagging indicators masked slowing underlying momentum. Inflation, terms of trade, and immigration propped up headline economic numbers and the budget. At the same time, the passengers—especially older, first-class passengers—were buoyed by some of the world’s highest house prices. Since 2008, the average net wealth of Australians has doubled, remaining on par with the United States as the highest per capita among major economies. As much as 70 per cent of this increase came from property values. Spending by older home-owning cohorts remains healthy, while younger Australians—who have record-low home ownership—are tightening their belts. Now, Australia’s economic doldrums are increasingly apparent. In recent years, living standards in Australia have declined faster than in any other developed economy. Consumer prices, mortgage interest repayments, and income tax have increased sharply. At the same time, Australian real incomes are 2 per cent below their pre-pandemic high, while those of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development […]

1 2 3 4 ›»

News Ticker

Smart Manufacturing