The Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) has recognised the innovation, resilience, and global competitiveness of the region’s manufacturing sector at the 2025 awards ceremony, celebrating businesses and individuals driving Australia’s industrial future.
Now in its 21st year, HMA reported a record number of entries, with submissions rising by more than 50 per cent compared to last year.
The event highlighted the ingenuity and capability of manufacturers across the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, and New England regions.
In a statement, HMA Chair Jacqui Daley said this year’s awards demonstrated the growing strength and diversity of the sector.
“Manufacturing in the Hunter is more diverse, more advanced, and more connected to the world than ever before,” 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.”
Daley said the awards showcased the range of innovation happening within the region. “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,” she said.
“The manufacturing industry is 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,” Daley added.
HMA said Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley congratulated all winners and finalists, acknowledging their contribution to the region’s proud industrial legacy and future growth.
“[The] celebration is the best of the Hunter on display – our ingenuity, our craftsmanship, and our courage to reimagine what’s possible,” Minister Catley said.
According to HMA, major award winners included Brain Industries, named Manufacturer of the Year (under 50 employees) for innovation, export performance, and workforce engagement, and Agrana Fruit Australia, awarded Manufacturer of the Year (50 or more employees) for high-quality production and export growth.
Varley Group was inducted into the HMA Hall of Fame for its long-standing contribution to the Hunter manufacturing landscape and nearly 140 years of continuous innovation across multiple sectors, including defence, marine, and health.
HMA said winners from the 2025 awards will advance as national finalists in the 2026 Australian Manufacturing Awards, following the success of several 2024 Hunter winners – Apollo Engineering, Whiteley, SAPHI, WesTrac’s Christie Hayward, and Allegro Energy – at the national level.
