The global manufacturing sector is witnessing a seismic shift in its automation approach as companies worldwide, big or small, grapple with the ongoing labour shortage and skills gap within the industry. 

Melbourne-based advanced materials company Kite Magnetics has secured a $2 million grant through the Australian Government's Industry Growth Program to support the commercialisation and manufacturing scale-up of its electric motor materials technology.

Amaero has been awarded a A$6.5 million contract by the United States Department of War (DoW) to develop alternative refractory alloy powders, supporting manufacturing capabilities for advanced aerospace and defence applications while aiming to reduce costs and reliance on foreign sources of critical raw materials.

Melbourne Polytechnic has opened an expression of interest (EOI) process inviting manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers and construction industry partners to contribute to a new Modern Methods of Construction Showcase Building planned for its Heidelberg campus.

Construction and manufacturing are progressing on equipment designed to strengthen New South Wales' electricity transmission network, with Transgrid announcing that enabling works have begun at key sites to support the installation of synchronous condensers as part of the state's energy transition.

The Salvation Army has welcomed Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding to its Salvos Stores Textile Recovery Facility (TRF), highlighting the facility's role in textile recovery, local employment and volunteering as part of the city's growing focus on circular economy initiatives.

Cleanaway has proposed a major redevelopment of its Dynon Road Waste Transfer Station in West Melbourne, outlining plans to modernise the ageing facility to support Melbourne's future waste and recycling needs, according to a project fact sheet.

Manufacturing became the largest occupier group in Australia's industrial and logistics property market during the second quarter of 2026, accounting for 37 per cent of national take-up, as the sector continued to record solid leasing activity and the national vacancy rate declined to 4.8 per cent, according to new research from JLL.

The Western Australian Government has opened a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking an anchor tenant for the South West Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub (AMTECH) in Picton, as part of plans to expand the State's manufacturing capability and support the energy transition.

Visy is encouraging Australians to consider packaging choices that support a circular economy as part of Plastic Free July, promoting recyclable alternatives to single-use plastics and providing resources to help improve recycling practices.

An Australian advanced materials manufacturer has reported progress in the development of graphene-enhanced protective coatings, with Sparc Technologies identifying HydroGraph's FGA-1 Fractal Graphene as a high-performing material for water-based coating formulations following a structured evaluation process.