Future of Manufacturing

Australia’s national AI plan has just been released. Who exactly will benefit?

Jake Goldenfein, Senior Lecturer, Law and Technology, The University of Melbourne. Christine Parker, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne, Kimberlee Weatherall, Professor of Law, University of Sydney. The Labor government has released the long-awaited National AI Plan, “a whole-of-government framework that ensures technology works for people, not the other way around”. With this plan, the government promises an inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) economy that protects workers, fills service gaps, and supports local AI development. In a major reversal, it also confirms Australia won’t implement mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI. Instead, it argues our existing legal regime is sufficient, and any minor changes for specific AI harms or risk can be managed with help from a new A$30 million AI Safety Institute within the Department of Industry. Avoiding big changes to Australia’s legal system makes sense in light of the plan’s primary goal – making Australia an attractive location for international data centre investment. The initial caution is gone After the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022 ushered in a generative AI boom, initial responses focused on existential risks posed by AI. Leading AI figures even called for a pause on all AI research. Governments outlined plans to regulate. But as investment in AI has grown, governments around the world have now shifted from caution to an AI race: embracing the opportunities while managing risks. In 2023, the European Union created the world’s leading AI plan promoting the uptake of human-centric and trustworthy artificial intelligence. The United States launched its own, more bullish action plan in July 2025. The new Australian plan prioritises creating a local AI software industry, spreading the benefit of AI “productivity gains” to workers and public service users, capturing some of the relentless global investment in AI data centres, and promoting Australia’s regional leadership by becoming an infrastructure and computing hub in the Indo-Pacific. Those goals are outlined in the plan’s three pillars: […]

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Reflections on 2025

Matthew Addley, Senior Director of Product and Industry Market Strategy, Infor Reflecting on 2025 have there been any key industry developments that surprised you or perhaps met your expectations? This year delivered a few unexpected turns for manufacturers. Evolving regulations and increasing market pressures prompted organisations to overhaul the way they source products and validate data from suppliers, helping them stay compliant, manage risk, and advance sustainability goals. Meanwhile, rapid innovation, rising customer expectations, and broader economic shifts intensified the push for change – such as moving to automated, real-time verifications platforms – and highlighted the importance of a technology-first approach. Shifting gears to look ahead now, with supply chain risks increasing, many businesses are moving to ‘just-in-case’ resilience by diversifying and nearshoring. How can businesses balance this approach with keeping operations lean and profitable in 2026 and years to come? With recent geopolitical developments and weather events, companies have moved from ‘just-in-time’ models to adopt ‘just-in-case’ strategies, which include diversification of suppliers and nearshoring. However, the balance is now to ensure that ‘just-in-case’ doesn’t mean inventory blow-out and lost profitability. Technology is a critical enabler of this shift, with platforms offering end-to-end visibility and real-time data from suppliers and logistics partners to mitigate the risks with a balanced, ‘just-enough’ approach. It’s the convergence of innovation, increasing customer demands, and global economic factors that drive this need for transformation, and the viability of a technology-centric response. With the rise of automation comes a demand for new skills but how do businesses take action on their initial, urgent needs for new capabilities while still working towards their long-term ambitions? The rise of automation, AI, and robotics isn’t about replacing workers, but should be seen as augmenting their capabilities to create the ‘connected worker’. Enterprise applications are evolving to be more […]

SYPAQ partnering with Amiga Engineering on Corvo X production

SYPAQ is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Amiga Engineering on the sovereign production of Corvo X, bringing together SYPAQ’s innovation in autonomous systems and Amiga Engineering’s world-class advanced manufacturing expertise, ahead of Indo-Pacific 2025. Amiga Engineering is an Australian family-owned business with over 38 years of handson experience in manufacturing and operates the largest metal and polymer additive manufacturing service bureau in Australia. Importantly for Corvo X production, Amiga Engineering is Australia’s only certified company to metal 3D print in Scalmalloy. “Our team is honoured to support SYPAQ in the manufacturing of components for Corvo X, by leveraging advanced materials such as Scalmalloy® and cutting-edge production techniques to help bring their innovative design to life” says Dee Bourchier, Amiga Engineering Head of Media and Marketing. Fresh oƯ their success at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards being recognised for both Apprentice of the Year and Small Business of the Year, Amiga Engineering is one of the many sovereign Australian Defence companies SYPAQ is proud to partner with to deliver the Australian Army’s DEF129 SUAS Program, establishing SYPAQ as a trusted sovereign Defence Force partner for SUAS capability development. “Our partnership with Amiga Engineering underscores SYPAQ’s commitment to building a truly sovereign capability with trusted Australian partners,” said Amanda Holt, CEO and Managing Director of SYPAQ. “By combining SYPAQ’s innovation with Amiga’s precision engineering and manufacturing expertise, we’re ensuring Corvo X showcases the depth of advanced manufacturing capabilities right here in Melbourne.” With an investment exceeding 90% Australian Industry Capability (AIC), Corvo X is a true Australian success story having been developed in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force over a number of years with all the design, manufacture and support of Corvo X to be completed in Victoria. SYPAQ is proud to showcase Corvo X at Indo-Pacific […]

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. […]

Aussie researchers develop eco-friendly roof tiles using coal ash and recycled glass, cutting CO₂ emissions by 13%

RMIT University Key facts: RMIT University and Bristile Roofing developed sustainable roof tiles using coal ash and recycled glass, reducing CO₂ emissions by 13% compared to traditional concrete tiles The tiles replace 10% cement with pond ash and 10% river sand with unwashed glass waste, whilst maintaining quality and improving fire resistance Successful full-scale manufacturing trials were conducted at Bristile Roofing’s Melbourne facility, demonstrating commercial viability The technology has also been adapted to create concrete bricks using 35% waste materials, offering 30% better insulation than conventional bricks Australia produces 12 million tonnes of coal ash annually and 1.3 million tonnes of glass waste, making this innovation significant for waste management A groundbreaking collaboration between RMIT University and Bristile Roofing has led to the development of sustainable roof tiles incorporating coal ash and recycled glass, achieving a 13% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional concrete tiles. This Australian innovation addresses the pressing issue of industrial waste management by re-purposing materials that would otherwise contribute to landfill, while offering consumers a durable, fire-resistant roofing option that meets Australian Standards. The full-scale manufacturing trials at Bristile Roofing’s Melbourne facility produced hundreds of these eco-friendly tiles, demonstrating both environmental and engineering benefits. A comprehensive circular life cycle assessment of the new tiles, covering the entire process from raw material production through to end-of-life landfilling, demonstrated a 13% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to conventional concrete tiles. RMIT’s Dr Yulin Patrisia, Bristile Roofing’s Samantha So, RMIT’s Dr David Law and student Madushan Mudiyanselage at the Bristile factory in Dandenong. RMIT project lead, Dr Chamila Gunasekara, said this substantial environmental benefit largely stems from using harvested pond ash and unwashed recycled glass sand, which avoid energy-intensive processing and effectively replace virgin materials. “By replacing 10% of cement with harvested pond ash and 10% of […]

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 […]

DroneShield announces South Australia R&D facility

DroneShield, a global leader in counter-drone and electronic warfare (EW) solutions, is pleased to announce a $13 million investment in a new research and development (R&D) facility in Adelaide, South Australia. This $13 million investment is a direct contribution to South Australia’s economy, covering three years of operational and capital expenditure. It will initially create around 20 high-skilled engineering roles in Adelaide, focused on radio frequency (RF) electronics, EW, and systems integration, to directly support DroneShield’s mission to deliver cutting-edge defence technologies. The South Australian expansion complements DroneShield’s existing engineering operations in Sydney and supports the Company’s continued growth in advanced RF electronics and EW capabilities. Adelaide has been chosen due to its proximity to leading global defence and aerospace organisations, a highly skilled engineering workforce, and established infrastructure supporting advanced technology development, particularly in EW and RF systems. The announcement comes as DroneShield reaches a significant company milestone, this week surpassing 400 employees globally, nearly doubling its team in the past year and more than quadrupling it over the last two years. Approximately 300 of these employees are software and hardware engineers, reinforcing DroneShield’s position as a world-leading technology company focused on delivering advanced defence capabilities. The Company also has around 100 open roles, reflecting its commitment to delivering on its technology roadmap and supporting customers and allies with speed and scale. Premier of South Australia, The Hon Peter Malinauskas, said, “South Australia is the Defence State, and has been recognised by the Business Council as the best place in the country to do business. We welcome DroneShield making the choice to conduct research and development here in Adelaide, creating 20 highly skilled engineering roles. As a Government, we have a strong focus on growing our Research and Development ecosystem, which has the capacity to build our economic complexity […]

Major Milestone: Six King Long EVolution low-floor electric buses enter Victorian service

Six brand-new King Long EVolution low-floor electric chassis have entered service in Melbourne — a significant step forward for the brand and a strong demonstration of the world-class capability of the EVolution platform. Purpose-built for the most demanding of missions, these vehicles were custom-designed for high-frequency airport operations. Running 24/7, they are engineered to meet the toughest duty cycles — proving beyond doubt that the King Long EVolution is not only capable but trusted for the hardest passenger transport tasks. This milestone is the result of a powerful collaboration between King Long, one of the world’s largest bus manufacturers, and Global Bus Ventures (NZ), New Zealand’s leading body builder. The vehicles were finished in Australia, delivering a final product with market-leading local Australian and New Zealand build content. This trans-Tasman approach supports local jobs and industry, combining globally respected chassis technology with craftsmanship that meets Australasian standards. Together, this partnership unites local build content with global innovation and scale — delivering the best of both worlds for operators who demand reliability, performance, and class-leading efficiency. Pete White, Managing Director of Bus Stop Sales — the exclusive Australian distributor of King Long, said the milestone cements King Long’s growing presence in Australia: “SkyBus is one of the most demanding applications for passenger transport, with aroundthe-clock operations and the highest expectations for reliability. For the King Long EVolution platform to be trusted in this environment sends a powerful message — that King Long delivers world-class technology with the performance and dependability Australian operators need. This is global leadership, delivered locally.” King Long’s EVolution chassis is the cornerstone of a fast-growing zero-emissions portfolio now operating in Australia. From 12-metre low-floor city buses to resource industry coaches and now high-frequency airport fleets, King Long electric buses are already proving themselves across diverse Australian conditions. […]

Hunter manufacturing embraces innovation and growth

Manufacturing in the Hunter is undergoing a quiet resurgence, with $26 billion in annual output and a growing number of businesses embracing clean energy, digital transformation and inclusive practices. That shift is reflected in a record number of applications for the Hunter Manufacturing Awards, with a 44% increase in applications, including 11 first-time entrants. The strong response points to a sector in transition, with significant growth seen in award categories such as innovation, product design and sustainability. The introduction of two new categories, Diversity in Manufacturing and Digital Transformation, was also met with enthusiasm, reflecting how manufacturers across the Hunter, Central and Mid North Coasts are adapting to the demands of a modern, resilient economy. “This year’s entries tell a bigger story than just numbers,” said HMA Chair Jacqui Daley. “They reveal a sector that is shifting gear, embracing advanced technologies, investing in cleaner, smarter production, and creating more inclusive workplaces.” Manufacturing continues to be one of the most important industries in the region, second only to mining in terms of output. While traditional industries such as steelmaking, aluminium and machinery fabrication still play a key role, the Hunter’s manufacturing landscape is being reshaped by growth in clean energy technologies, defence and aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage production. “In every corner of our region, we’re seeing manufacturers step up with creativity and capability, from batteries and boats to breakfast cereals and biotech,” said Daley. “The 2025 entries showcase the real breadth and depth of talent we have here.” Now in its 21st year, the Hunter Manufacturing Awards program continues to celebrate the people, processes and progress shaping the region’s industrial future. Winners of the 2025 Hunter Manufacturing Awards will be announced at the gala event on Thursday 30 October 2025 at NEX, Newcastle . The event brings together manufacturers, […]

Robots red meatAMPC interim CEO Edwina Toohey

Robots, red meat and resilience: driving productivity and sustainability in the processing industry

AMPC Innovation Showcase, Brisbane 10–11 September, 2025 The Australian red meat processing industry broke three of its own environmental performance records this past year, thanks in large part to practices driven by new technologies and innovation. The industry is coming together in Brisbane for the second Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) Innovation Showcase, where processors, researchers and supply chain participants will gather to talk about how the industry is improving global competitiveness and productivity, while reducing its environmental impact. The red meat sector includes beef cattle, sheep, goats and buffalo. The processing industry is a major contributor to the Australian economy. It currently supports the employment of more than 189,000 people and generates more than $25.4 billion in direct and industry value adds. The two-day Showcase event will bring together more than 400 delegates to look at how red meat will be processed in the next decade, and how technology can help make it safer, more sustainable and more efficient. The program reflects the growing role of innovation in securing food supply, reducing climate impact and shaping the future of work in regional communities. AMPC’s interim CEO Edwina Toohey says rigorous research and development is driving incredible innovation in the red meat processing industry. “Our latest industry Environmental Performance Review showed industry broke three records last year: lowest intensity results for greenhouse gas emissions since reporting began in 1998; industry’s lowest water intensity; and the highest water recycling levels. Environmental improvements have also massively shifted, with bioenergy now having taken over from coal as the second most used thermal energy source. “Those incredible results come at the same time as tech, AI and innovation are opening the industry to a broader workforce, creating even better-quality products and delivering world-leading food safety outcomes. This showcase will give delegates a chance […]

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Future of Manufacturing