Trade Shows/Events

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 […]

Robotics, automation and supply chain challenges to headline at Sydney-based industry conferences

CeMAT Australia and Industrial Transformation Australia will host the largest gathering of professionals in manufacturing, warehousing and logistics. The Dome at Sydney Olympic Park will host the co-located CeMAT Australia 2025 and Industrial Transformation Australia 2025 events from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 July. Over three days attendees will have access to a range of expert-led sessions from local and international presenters, and will be able to connect with 200 exhibitors across both events. The Australian Forklift Championships will be hosted as part of CeMAT Australia with the official battle taking place on Wednesday 23 July and additional corporate teams and live demonstrations happening on Thursday 24 July. Agenda highlights for CeMAT Australia 2025: Opening keynote – State of the Nation | Julian Brancaccio, Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia Special unveiling – Rise to New Dimensions: Introducing AeroBot – the Future of AI-driven Fulfilment | Michael Kemeny, KNAPP Australia Green is the new lean – Why Carbon-Smart Supply Chains is the Next Competitive Advantage | Claire Bull, Extolla View the full agenda here: https://www.cemat.com.au/agenda Agenda highlights for Industrial Transformation Australia 2025: Keynote – Megatrends shaping the next decade of Advanced Manufacturing Australia’s big move in the evolution of industry 4.0 | Henrik von Scheel, Industry 4.0 Originator Keynote – The Future of Manufacturing: Operate to Grow | John Broadbent, Realise Potential Robotic Picking & Handling Using Vacuum Technology | Michal Vigoda, Schmalz Australia View the full agenda here: https://www.industrialtransformation.com.au/agenda 2025 Exhibition CeMAT Australia, Industrial Transformation Australia, and the Processing & Packaging Pavilion – powered by APPMA, will host over 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in intralogistics, robotics and automation, warehousing, supply chain management, and materials handling. The events will also feature leaders in advanced manufacturing, and distributors and importers of packing and processing machinery serving key sectors […]

Hunter Manufacturing Awards return in 2025 with national recognition and new award categories

Winners to fast-track into new national awards program as entries open across the Hunter, Central Coast and Mid-North Coast The 2025 Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) have officially launched, unveiling a revitalised program designed to spotlight innovation, inclusion, and global competitiveness in one of regional Australia’s most vital industries. Now in its 21st year, HMA continues to celebrate the outstanding achievements of manufacturers across the Hunter, Central Coast, New England and Mid-North Coast regions. But this year comes with a powerful new incentive: a first-of-its-kind partnership with Industry Update’s Australian Manufacturing Awards will see 2024 HMA winners automatically fast tracked as national finalists in the debut of the prestigious new national program. “We’re proud to be raising the profile of regional manufacturers on a national stage,” said HMA Chair Jacqui Daley. “This partnership is a game-changer, it’s about putting the Hunter on the map as a manufacturing powerhouse and giving our winners the recognition they deserve across the country.” In the picture: Some HMA board members. Two new award categories have been launched in response to industry priorities: • Digital Transformation Award – recognising outstanding use of digital technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation in manufacturing operations. • Diversity in Manufacturing Award – celebrating businesses and individuals that are fostering inclusive, accessible, and equitable workplaces across the manufacturing sector. “We’re recognising the real forces shaping the future of manufacturing; digital innovation, diverse talent, sustainable operations, and global thinking,” said Ms Daley. “The 2025 awards are about more than trophies, they’re about celebrating the people and ideas that will lead our industries forward.” In the picture: Peter McKinnon, Omnia. The 2025 awards also feature a streamlined entry process following feedback from manufacturers, making it easier for businesses of all sizes to apply. HMA has also introduced new technology to […]

Investment NSW partnership announcement updated

Nominations open for 2025 NSW Export Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2025 NSW Export Awards, which recognise the outstanding contribution exporters make to the NSW economy and celebrate the best of NSW made products, ingenuity and innovation on the global stage. Delivered by the Export Council of Australia in partnership with the NSW Government, the NSW Export Awards will recognise businesses in 14 national categories and four NSW categories. Twisted Healthy Treats won last year in the Agribusiness, Food and Beverages national category. The frozen desserts manufacturer makes frozen yogurt and ice cream from its manufacturing facility in Ingleburn and distributes to supermarkets nationwide and exports to multiple countries including the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Amidst a challenging global environment, the theme for this year’s NSW Export Awards is Broaden Your Trade Horizons – emphasising that diversifying export markets is essential to NSW and Australia’s economic growth and trade resilience. The NSW Government is currently developing a Trade and Investment Strategy, which will focus on diversification with clear ambitions to grow exports, attract investment and support businesses in new international markets. Nominations for the NSW Export Awards opened today and will close on Friday 13 June 2025. Finalists are expected to be announced in September ahead of the awards ceremony announcing the winners in October. The winners in the 14 national categories will automatically progress as finalists for the Australian Export Awards, to be held in November. For more information on the NSW Export Awards and how to nominate your business, visit https://export.org.au/nsw-export-awards/. Investment NSW Deputy Secretary Rebecca McPhee: “Exporters are a critical driver of economic growth in NSW, with $142.5 billion worth of goods and services sold abroad in 2023-24, making up 17 per cent of our Gross State Product. “While it’s a challenging global environment, NSW’s exporters are […]

Smart manufacturing starts with Plex

Rockwell Automation will be showcasing its Plex cloud-based manufacturing platform at this year’s Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) in Melbourne from May 6-9. Demonstrations will be held at stand MS210 (Manufacturing Solutions Zone). Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES), integrated with Rockwell’s suite, offers comprehensive manufacturing software, providing real-time production management, enhancing compliance, quality, and efficiency. “Plex is a cloud-based platform, that enables future-focussed manufacturers to achieve real-time integration, high levels of availability and flexibility, cybersecurity, and scalability,” says Anthony Wong, vice president, enterprise software sales, Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation Plex has been used by Australian and New Zealand companies to enhance operational efficiency, with examples including: STM Brands, a manufacturer of high-quality, award-winning accessories for tablets, laptops, and phones with a worldwide retail presence and offices in Sydney, San Diego, London, and Kuala Lumpur. As air freight costs began to rise, STM Brands realised its supply chain and spreadsheet-based planning was not accurately keeping up with demand volatility, and this was eating into the company’s margins. After implementing Plex, STM Brands increased gross profit margin by 5%, improved operating margin by 20%, reduced costly air freight by 50%, and decreased overall freight to sales ratio by 25% year-over-year. Importantly, Plex’s Supply Chain Planning (SCP) integrated into STM’s existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, allowing for seamless data transfer. Tasti Products Limited, New Zealand, a snack bar and wholefood ball manufacturer. Recognising their legacy ERP system could no longer support an expanding business, Tasti Products searched for a smart manufacturing solution that would allow the company to scale in size and improve the speed in which business analytics could be performed. Tasti sought a manufacturing solution that was cloud-based and could help drive its end-to-end digital transformation. With the ability to offer world-class food safety and its established presence in the food […]

Manufacturing finalists announced

2024 AUSTRALIAN TRADES AND WOMEN’S SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION AWARDS From thousands of entrants from across the nation, 26 have made the Manufacturing Finalists Lists of 2024 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards and the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards – two major recognition awards programmes dedicated to spotlighting top-performing small business operators, nationwide. Spanning all capital cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns, the Trades and Women’s Small Business Champion Awards pay tribute to the vital role of small businesses in Australia’s overall social and economic prosperity. Moreover, the Awards recognise small business owners’ invaluable contributions to their local communities and to their fields of specialty. The Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is now in its third year and requires at least 50 per cent female ownership of an entrant business. Now in its second year, the 2024 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards features a total of more than 50 categories, across trades-based retail, services and manufacturing industries.PIC from 2023 Awards. Among this year’s most competitive categories, Manufacturing is proving exceptionally challenging to judge, says Steve Loe, Awards Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, which coordinates the Australian Trades and Women’s Small Business Champion Awards. “The quality of Manufacturing category entrants is very impressive. The shortlisting of this year’s finalists was quite the challenge for our judges. “When the Champion Judges evaluate entries, they consider all aspects of a business: its strategies, growth, eco-friendliness, community contributions, innovation, customer service, and product and service quality – to name but some of the criteria. “The next rounds of judging will be intense as we continue to evaluate the achievements of this year’s 26 Manufacturing finalists to reach just one winner per programme,” says Mr Loe. The 16 Manufacturing finalists of the Australian Trades Small Business […]

Fine Food Australia returns in September

Visitor registration is now open for Australia’s largest food B2B event for the foodservice and hospitality industry, Fine Food Australia. Fine Food Australia will return to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday 2nd of September, spanning over four days until Thursday the 5th of September, 2024. As the trade event celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, the show is set to be more expansive than ever, already featuring more than 425+ Australian and international exhibitors representing the food industry, across categories including foodservice, hospitality, catering, bakery, retail, import, export, distribution, and manufacturing. With the show floor already 85% sold out, Fine Food is set to be sold out soon. Reflecting upon the event’s 40th Anniversary, Diversified Communications Managing Director, David Longman remarks “As we celebrate Fine Food Australia’s 40th year, we reflect on how it has evolved, embracing innovation, trends & challenges of the culinary industry here in Australia. From humble beginnings to a large-scale international trade event, this milestone symbolises not just longevity but resilience & adaptability of the Australian food industry. “Fine Food Australia is testament to the enduring spirit of culinary excellence and the platform’s role in shaping the future of food in Australia. With the unwavering commitment of the food industry, we look forward to honouring this journey and embracing the opportunities ahead as we continue to elevate the gastronomic experience for another 40 years and beyond.” Fine Food Australia Commercial Product Manager, Sinead Kavanagh, added “We are so excited to deliver Fine Food Australia 2024. With over 40 years of connections and stories to tell it’s going to be a huge edition where we celebrate the people and businesses in this incredible industry. We’re also excited to be launching two new features to the show that will enhance the experience for our visitors and help their businesses thrive, […]

The path to a successful career in manufacturing and making a positive impact

Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an internationally recognised materials scientist, engineer and inventor revolutionising recycling science. As a leading expert in the field of recycling science, and founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology at UNSW. Veena is producing a new generation of green materials, products and resources made entirely, or primarily, from waste. Veena also heads the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘green manufacturing’ – a leading national research centre that works in collaboration with industry to ensure new science is translated into real world environmental and economic benefits. Veena has been extensively recognised for the innovation and significance of her work, including via election to be a Fellow of the esteemed Australian Academy of Science. At the Women in Manufacturing Summit 2023, Veena examined how to use sustainability and circular economy strategies to improve environmental, social, and financial bottom lines in manufacturing. CAN YOU BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF? I grew up Mumbai, which is such a fabulous city with so much going on. As a child, it was about understanding, first and foremost, how people actually made a living. It always impressed me that people would do this by fixing shoes, clothes and all kinds of electronic stuff that we had at home. To me, the creation of all these products out of things that were supposedly broken was really fascinating. I see my work not just as science and engineering, but as wider social reform. I have lived with my family in Australia for almost 30 years. WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? I’m the Director of the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre where we are known for pioneering the high temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials’. Our best […]

Connection and education at the centre of renewed ag innovation event

Registrations now open for AgSmart Connect in Tamworth in March, 2024 There’s a new name and a sharpened focus, but an event that has showcased agricultural technology for the past two years is returning with the same promise of highlighting to the industry the enormous potential and opportunity in the agricultural innovation sector. Organised by ACM Rural Events, AgSmart Connect is back in Tamworth from March 6 to 7 next year, where it was first staged in 2022, with exhibitor registrations and sponsorship opportunities now open. Lupe Prada, Commercial Manager ACM Rural Events, said the change from AgSmart Expo to AgSmart Connect was a reflection of the renewed emphasis on not only presenting new technology updates and developments, but also giving attendees the ideas and knowledge to put them into practice in their own agricultural businesses. “Three years on, we’re more than an expo now, so we wanted to make the information and education seminars the heart of the event. This event is about education and bringing people together. Connecting them through agri-innovation, AgSmart Connect will be a forum for agri-innovation providers to engage with farmers, investors and the agri-curious from across the industry,” Lupe said. “We want to show ag technology innovation is accessible to anyone who wants to grow the profitability and viability of their business. This is about demonstrating there’s no reason to be intimidated by the amazing level of innovation out there, it’s about giving attendees the tools and information they need to employ it practically in their operations.” AgSmart Connect will be held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC), with seminar rooms for speakers at the centre of the event space and the exhibitor stands wrapping around these speaker areas. A new feature next year is the addition of an outdoor networking […]

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Decarbonising our cities

The built environment accounts for 39 per cent of gross annual carbon emissions worldwide. How to account for embodied carbon emissions Operational emissions – for example from the electricity it takes to heat or cool buildings – account for some built environment emissions. But embodied carbon emissions also contribute a significant proportion. They are carbon emissions caused by construction as well as the extraction, manufacture and transportation of construction materials. Replacing an energy-inefficient old building could reduce operational emissions but add to embodied carbon emissions. And balancing that equation can be challenging, as calculating embodied carbon emissions involves uncertainties. Different databases give different values for embodied carbon coefficients, which represent the amount of carbon emitted per unit of material. But experts can help navigate this uncertainty. “We all have to commit to transparency in our approaches to embodied carbon calculations. We need to share data sources, and methodologies and assumptions used in our calculations. And only then can we foster trust and comparability so that we can ultimately reduce embodied carbon,” said Dr James Helal, Lecturer in Sustainable Structural Design and Assistant Dean (Sustainability) at the University of Melbourne. Designing new buildings to minimise carbon emissions “To reach our net zero emission goals, we must reshape the way we think about buildings. They’re not just shelters. They’re living, breathing entities that should be designed and operated with a clear understanding of their impact on our ecosystem,” said Dr Behzad Rismanchi, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne. Specifying carbon targets, including embodied carbon, and engaging with engineers or sustainability consultants early is crucial. “Optimisation [of building designs] can only take us so far,” said Environmental Designer Lucy Marsland from Atelier Ten. Applying circular economy principles to building design will inherently achieve decarbonisation. “Circular economy at its heart aims to keep […]

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